Helsinki, June 13: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has strongly criticised European countries for supplying weapons that have been used against India, while defending New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Speaking at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland, Jaishankar rejected criticism of India’s position on the Ukraine war and said Europe should reflect on its own record before questioning India’s policies.
Jaishankar said no European country has ever been attacked with Indian weapons, but European-made weapons have been used against India for decades.
“Europeans sell weapons that are used to attack India. We Indians have never done anything to endanger Europe,” he said, in an apparent reference to military exports to Pakistan.
He stressed that India’s security concerns must be understood in the broader context of global geopolitics and defence partnerships.
Defends Russian Oil Purchases
The External Affairs Minister also defended India’s continued import of Russian crude oil. He said India entered the Russian oil market after the Ukraine conflict disrupted global energy supplies and pushed up prices.
According to Jaishankar, the United States had encouraged India to buy Russian oil in the early stages of the conflict to help stabilise global energy markets.
“At that time, the US specifically asked India to buy Russian oil to stabilise world markets,” he said.
Jaishankar questioned what he described as inconsistent Western policies toward Russian energy exports.
He argued that sanctions and restrictions on Russian oil have frequently changed based on geopolitical circumstances and accused some countries of applying different standards when it suited their interests.
The minister reiterated that India’s energy policy is driven by affordability, availability and national energy security.
Jaishankar said India purchases oil based on economic considerations and the welfare of its population. He noted that global market conditions following the Ukraine war forced many countries, including India, to diversify their energy sources.
India has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy remain the best path to resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict while safeguarding its own strategic and economic interests.
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