India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has given a sharp rebuttal to criticism from Western countries over India’s purchase of oil from Russia. Speaking at an event in Finland, he said that after the Ukraine war in 2022, the United States itself had requested India to buy oil from Russia to maintain stability in the international oil market.
Jaishankar clearly stated that India has always purchased oil based on price and availability. At that time, as European countries were buying larger quantities of oil from the Middle East, India’s traditional supply system was impacted and Russian oil became relatively more accessible.
He further alleged that Western countries impose sanctions at times and lift them at other times according to their own interests. Jaishankar also remarked that there is no question of any “great principle” in this matter. The External Affairs Minister once again made it clear that India has always prioritized its national interest when it comes to its foreign policy and energy security.
