Addressing a joint press conference in Delhi alongside United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserted that India will continue purchasing oil from multiple global sources to safeguard its energy security. Responding to questions about the ongoing Middle East conflict and the resulting global energy crisis, Jaishankar said India has an obligation to ensure affordable and accessible energy for its citizens. He stressed that the country would continue diversifying its energy imports by relying on dependable and cost-effective suppliers.
“Where the energy issues are concerned… for our energy security, it is important that we have multiple sources, large sources, dependable sources, cheap sources,” Jaishankar said. He further added that India does not want global energy markets to be “distorted” or “constricted” because such disruptions directly affect prices and economic stability.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Although Jaishankar did not directly mention Russia, his remarks were widely interpreted as a clear indication that India intends to continue importing discounted Russian crude oil despite pressure from the United States and Western nations. Since 2022, India has significantly increased purchases of Russian oil, taking advantage of lower prices amid sanctions imposed on Moscow following the Ukraine conflict.
The United States has repeatedly attempted to discourage India from buying Russian crude through diplomatic pressure and sanctions-related measures. However, New Delhi has maintained that its energy decisions will be guided by national interest and economic considerations rather than external pressure. Earlier this month, the Modi government reaffirmed that India would continue sourcing Russian oil irrespective of exemptions or restrictions imposed by Washington.
