'Double standards are unfathomable': S Jaishankar slams US on Russia oil imports
Suspense Crime, Digital Desk : Slamming US sanctions imposed on the import of Russian oil, S. Jaishankar said that this will not affect India. He also said that US constantly changes its policies, whereas India stands still in its position.
United States of America have now faced criticism by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for im posing and now waiving off sanctions imposed on Russian oil imports. Speaking to the reporters in Kultaranta in Finland, Jaishankar stated that United States of America is changing its sanctions policy continually. He even pointed out that United States of America itself was encouraging oil imports from Russia as the move was stated to stabilize the international market and after this the US imposed sanctions and now exempted them from it.
"This is a subject on which if you have double standards, you really find them incomprehensible. We don't work on double standards," stated S. Jaishankar. The external affairs minister added that after the attack on Ukraine, India had not stopped buying oil from Russia as it was critical for our nation to ensure its energy security and geopolitical situation did not matter as much. India decides its oil purchases based on availability and pricing and when Russia had an ample supply, as most of the European nations were buying oil from the west Asian market India went on to import Russian oil based on the prevailing situation.
America itself has said to purchase oil from Russia.
The MEA also stated that America itself told India to purchase oil from Russia. Post-Ukraine attack when oil prices skyrocketed across the globe, America told India to purchase oil from Russia to prevent global market turmoil, since then India has now became one of the major buyers of Russian oil which also helped maintain a certain level in oil prices in India.
The Minister further stated, "Look at what America is doing today. First they gave us tariffs for importing oil from Russia, and then they themselves withdraw their sanctions." The minister also said that with the constant change in America's stance, the one factor that remained constant was the country's position. Last month, Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Sujata Sharma was also quoted saying that India is importing oil from Russia, indifferent of the im position and subsequent waiving off of the sanctions and says that India which is the third largest oil importer, will not purchase oil based on sanctions.
