External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday rebuked criticism of India’s purchase of Russian crude oil, saying that India’s energy decisions were driven by cost and availability.
I purchase oil according to its price and availability. At that time, most of the oil on the market came from Russia, because European buyers were effectively taking up the Middle Eastern oil that had traditionally supplied us.
Response to European criticism
Jaishankar then highlighted what he described as a contradiction in European criticism of India. "So circumstances pushed us in a certain direction but since you spoke about moral ambiguity, I would say this, no European country has been attacked with Indian weapons. I wish I could say that for European weapons vis-a-vis India... Europeans sell weapons that are used to attack India. Not now, for many years. We Indians have never done anything to endanger Europe. So I think that's a reasonable point," he added.
Remarks at Finland forum
The External Affairs Minister made these comments at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland during a panel on ‘Emerging Powers and the New Geopolitical Competition’.
Jaishankar was questioned about India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war and accusations that New Delhi had shown excessive sympathy toward Moscow due to its oil purchases.
India’s energy security stance
The remarks come as segments of the West continue to scrutinize India’s energy relationship with Russia following the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. New Delhi has repeatedly asserted that its foreign policy and energy security choices are driven by national interests, while simultaneously calling for dialogue and diplomacy to bring the war to an end.