India: EAM S. Jaishankar talks facts about India’s relationship with Russia

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is an Indian diplomat and politician serving as the Minister of External Affairs of India. In a recent interview with an Austrian public broadcaster Osterreichischer Rundfunk, he highlighted how Europe managed to reduce its imports while doing it in a manner comfortable for Europe.

Jaishankar stated that European nations are putting pressure on global oil markets, resulting in double oil prices. The energy crises raised many problems for Europe since Russia sabotaged the gas supplies of Europe for there to support and arm Ukraine.

The Indian diplomat noted that European governments had taken several steps to counter the effects of war and energy crises on their citizens; they should also extend their privileges to other countries.

Jaishankar explained that it is important for every country to look after their citizens. He underlined that a European citizen’s average per capita income is 60,000 euros, and the European governments are putting their populace on the top priority list, which is fine.

The Indian Minister, on the other hand, said that his country also has a population with a per capita income of $2,000 and that they also require energy resources, which they find challenging to manage because of the high inflation rate. He emphasised the need for the European government to consider other countries.

According to the external affairs minister, Europe has also shifted its production away from the Middle East, which has led to ongoing inflation. He emphasised that both the global oil market and Indian impulses are being put under strain by these European initiatives.

The Austrian interviewer also inquired about India’s historic ties to Moscow during the course of the conversation with the Indian envoy.

Since India is the second-largest consumer of Russian oil and weapons behind China, the interviewer, Rundfunk, focused on Russia’s role in Indian imports and defence.

Minister Jaishankar said the two countries have a long history when asked about the relationship between Russia and India. He said it is crucial to consider the accounts of the two nations.

Jaishankar emphasised the incidents of the Indo-Pak War of 1971 when the United States and other Western nations backed Pakistan by giving them cutting-edge weapons to deploy against India while withholding the Indian Defense equipment.

In support of the military dictator Pakistan, the Nixon administration sent the second Task Force 74 to the Bay of Bengal in December 1971.

In reaction to the American military presence in the region, Russia sent out two groups of cruisers and destroyers and a submarine equipped with nuclear bombs to defend India and prevent US involvement in the fight.

These, according to the Indian Minister of External Affairs, are the causes of India’s long-standing connections with Russia, which has always defended the nation. At the same time, the West backed the side of the military ruler.

The anchor, Rundfunk, also mentioned Russia as an ally of India. Jaishakar responded to his query by stating that India is a democratic, independent nation and does not support the partnership. The Indian Minister made the oblique reference to NATO, saying that creating an alliance was a term used in the West and India didn’t require it.