S. Jaishankar’s clear message: No compromise in India’s energy policy, independent decision on oil purchase from Russia, know everything

Munich. Reaffirming its strategic autonomy on the global stage, India has made it clear that decisions related to energy will be taken on the basis of availability, price and risk, and not under any external pressure.

Recently, after the interim trade agreement between India and America, America was repeatedly claiming that India had stopped buying oil from Russia. US President Donald Trump and Foreign Minister Marco Rubio had said that India has assured to refrain from buying additional crude oil from Russia.

Jaishankar rejected the claim-
Addressing the Munich Security Conference, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar clarified that-
India’s foreign policy is based on independent decisions.

India’s approach in matters of energy and oil will remain based on strategic autonomy.

“We will take decisions that are in the best interest of India. These are outside the political sphere,” he said.

When asked directly whether India would stop buying oil from Russia, Jaishankar replied-
“If the question is whether I will take a decision with independent thinking and different from your thinking, then yes, that can happen.”

India’s stance on energy market-
Jaishankar described the energy market as complex and said that like other parts of the world, Indian oil companies will take decisions keeping in mind availability, price and risk. He stressed that the trade deal will not affect India’s long-term strategy and independent decision-making ability.

This statement makes it clear that India will remain independent in its energy strategy, and has neither officially accepted nor rejected the US claim on oil purchases from Russia.