New Delhi:
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, known for his no-nonsense articulation of India's position on geopolitical issues, responded sharply when asked by an Australian journalist whether New Delhi recognizes Canberra's “fear” over its ties with Russia.
Dr. Jaishankar spoke to Sky News Australia's Sharri Markson in an interview during his recent visit. Asked by Ms Markson whether India recognizes the “fear” its relationship with Russia is causing in Australia, he replied: “I don't think we have given cause for any fear. Today, countries do not have exclusive relationships. “
The minister then drew a Pakistani parallel. “If I were to use that logic, I would say that so many countries have a relationship with Pak. Look at the fear this should cause me,” he said.
Dr. Jaishankar then explained how India's close ties with Russia are in the interest of the international community. Referring to Delhi's decision to buy Russian oil despite the West and other countries imposing sanctions on Moscow after the war broke out in Ukraine, the minister said:
“If we had not taken the actions we did, the energy markets would have taken a completely different turn and caused a global energy crisis, which would have led to inflation around the world.”
He said India's ties with Russia allow it to play a role in highlighting the conflict. “The fact that we have a good relationship with Russia allows us to be a country in between that has the ability to talk to both Russia and Ukraine and try to find a crossroads in those talks. I think the world, including Australia, is such a country that will help bring this conflict back to the conference table,” he said, adding: “Conflicts rarely end on the battlefield, usually they end in negotiations.”
Australia has supported Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and supplied Kiev with weapons. When the conflict began in 2022, then Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had said that Russia should be seen as a “pariah state” and that no country should have anything to do with them.
When the West imposed sanctions on Russia, India decided to continue buying oil from Moscow. This raised eyebrows and Dr Jaishankar answered the West's questions about India's decision. The former diplomat had then said sharply that Europe must grow from the idea that Europe's problems are the world's problems, but that the world's problems are not Europe's problems. He said India has the right to prioritize its energy needs. Later, while addressing the Our World Summit, Dr Jaishankar had underlined that Moscow has never done anything that adversely affected Indian interests.
On the conflict in Ukraine, Narendra Modi's government has refused to take sides, with the Prime Minister insisting that this is not an era of war. The Prime Minister recently traveled to both Ukraine and Russia. India, he has said, is not neutral but is on the side of peace.
