Helsinki/New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, on Thursday, hit out at the West over its inherent contradictions regarding the criticism of India’s procurement of Russian crude oil.
He also referred to how Europe Sells Weapons that are used to attack India.
Jaishankar was in Finland when a journalist questioned India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, accusing New Delhi of being “too sympathetic and too willing to buy oil from Russia”.
Jaishankar responded firmly, articulating India’s pragmatic approach to safeguarding its national interests. His remarks were delivered while participating in a discussion on ‘Emerging Powers and the New Geopolitical Competition’ at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland.
“I’ll make two observations. I buy oil based on cost and availability. So at that point of time, much of the oil available in the market was Russian because Europeans were essentially buying oil from the Middle East, which was our traditional supplier. So circumstances pushed us in a certain direction,” Jaishankar stated, ANI reported.
When requested by the interlocutor to expand upon his statement, the EAM reiterated India’s long-standing security concerns regarding Western arms supplies to the region.
He countered the criticism by drawing attention to Europe’s historical and moral inconsistencies regarding global security dynamics.
“No European country has been attacked with Indian weapons. I wish I could say that for Europe weapons vis-a-vis India,” Jaishankar remarked, subtly reminding the audience of India’s peaceful global footprint.
“Europe sells weapons, which are used to attack India. Not just now but for many years. We Indians have never done anything to endanger Europe. I think that’s a reasonable point,” Jaishankar emphasised.
In 2022, Washington itself recognised the vital role India played in maintaining global economic equilibrium, the EAM recalled.
The US had encouraged New Delhi to procure Russian crude to stabilise energy markets and prevent a catastrophic spike in global inflation following Western sanctions on Moscow, Jaishankar noted.
“At that time, the US directly asked India to buy Russian oil to stabilise the oil market. We buy oil based on cost and availability,” he maintained during his address in Finland.
Jaishankar also questioned the contradictory nature of Western sanction policies, advising against applying a selective moral lens to complex global trade and energy security.
