During his participation in the ‘Global Leadership Forum,’ Jaishankar affirmed that ‘India maintains the independence of its decisions,’ noting that ‘ultimately, we make decisions that serve the national interest.’
Regarding the criticism directed at India for purchasing Russian crude oil, the Indian minister said, ‘If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. But Europe buys, and America buys. And if you don’t like it, don’t buy from us,’ reminding that the year 2022 witnessed widespread global concern due to rising oil prices, and India’s purchases at that time helped calm international markets, according to ‘Times of India.’
Jaishankar noted that his recent visit to Moscow focused on annual bilateral meetings and enhancing trade exchange, reiterating India’s position calling for a swift resolution of the Ukrainian crisis.
The Indian Foreign Minister also touched on relations with America, explaining that ‘interactions have seen periods of cooperation and disagreement, but they still maintain a generally positive direction, while communication channels remain open despite some differences.’
In the context of discussing previous American strategies, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar pointed to the varying approaches of different administrations, from former US President Barack Obama’s policies of openness with China to the unconventional style of current US President Donald Trump, as he put it, noting that ‘India deals with these changes flexibly while maintaining its strategic interests.’
