Munich: Amid international scrutiny over India's continued purchase of Russian crude oil despite sanctions, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised that Russia has never harmed Indian interests.
"Everyone conducts a relationship based on past experiences. If I look at the history of post-independence India, Russia has never hurt our interests. We have always had a stable and very friendly relationship... and our relationship with Moscow today is based on this experience," he said.
Jaishankar, attending a security meeting in Munich, addressed concerns about the India-Russia relationship, particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Despite facing financial sanctions and weapons aid to Ukraine from the West, India has maintained its pragmatic stance, securing discounted purchases of Russian crude oil to meet the demands of its oil-dependent economy. Jaishankar defended India's position, highlighting the economic challenges posed by exorbitant oil prices globally.
He underscored that if all nations refrained from buying crude oil from Russia, opting for alternative suppliers, energy market prices would surge significantly. Jaishankar noted that richer Western countries, unlike India, could afford to shift to Middle Eastern suppliers, albeit at inflated prices.
The External Affairs Minister emphasised the marginal nature of India's Russian oil purchases compared to European nations and reiterated the country's commitment to securing the best possible deals for its citizens amid high energy prices. Jaishankar's remarks echoed his earlier statements, highlighting the practicality of India's approach to global energy dynamics.
"My point is... just as I do not expect Europe to have a view of China identical to mine, Europe should understand I cannot have a view of Russia identical to the European one. Let us accept there are natural differences in relationships," he added.
In a nuanced perspective on India's relationship with China, Jaishankar remarked that he did not anticipate the West fully understanding the complexities of India's ties with China, just as he acknowledged challenges in comprehending the West's relationships with other nations.