India is not inclined! ‘We will not like the decision’, Jaishankar poked Trump on the Russian oil issue?

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made it clear that India will follow the policy of ‘Junkega Nehi’ in buying Russian oil. Since the announcement of India’s trade agreement with America, many from Donald Trump and the US administration have claimed that India will stop importing oil from Russia. Several reports have also surfaced that Indian companies have reduced their purchases of Russian oil. But Jaishankar clarified India’s position on Russian oil.

The Foreign Minister was speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. There he said, “India has always remained independent in the strategic sphere. Despite political changes, this policy of India has never changed.” In that conference, Jaishankar was asked, will India stop buying Russian oil because of the trade agreement with America? “If you want to know whether we are going to take a decision independently, or take a decision that may not be to anyone’s liking – then I would say it can happen,” the foreign minister’s blunt reply.

Jaishankar also said that currently the oil market is very complicated. Not only India, countries in Europe and other regions are also looking at buying oil. All the countries are checking the details like price, risk, how much oil can be bought. The governments of the country are taking the best decision for the interest of the country after looking at them. However, Jaishankar did not make it clear that India will not stop buying Russian oil despite making several indicative comments.

Will India stop buying Russian oil because of the trade agreement with America? “If you want to know whether we are going to take a decision independently, or take a decision that may not be to anyone’s liking – then I would say it can happen,” the foreign minister’s clear reply.

It may be noted that in the announcement of the trade agreement, Trump claimed that India and America are going to sign a trade agreement on the condition of not buying Russian oil and buying US goods worth 45 lakh crores in five years. Then US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that India will stop buying oil from Russia. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made it clear, “Donald Trump is the only one telling the world that India will stop buying oil from long-time trusted ‘friend’ Russia.” However, India has not clarified its position regarding Russian oil.