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BIG STORY JANUARY 06, 2023 | The Indian Eye 8

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar holds talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lav-
addresses joint press conference, in Washington DC in September 2022 (ANI) rov, in Moscow in November 2022 (ANI Photo)

affairs minister told a reporter that out that said India’s grand strategy her first official trip that focused on oil and asked “will Indian change its
the Indian government is watching will not be a choice between the two the climate crisis and preserving the attitude?”
what’s happening in the world and powers but based on weighing the sit- rules-based order. Pointing out recent import fig-
drawing its own conclusion. uation on every matter. During Baerbock’s joint press ures of India which paled in com-
Again, in June this year, ques- Earlier this month, German For- conference with EAM Jaishankar in parison to Europe, Jaishankar em-
tions were raised on increasing oil eign Minister Annalena Baerbock New Delhi, a visiting journalist raised phasized that Europe will make the
imports from Russia, at the GLOB- paid a three-day visit to India on a question on the import of Russian choices it will make, however, for the
SEC Bratislava Security Conference bloc to make choices that prioritize
in the Slovak Republic. Here too, its energy needs and then ask India
fingers were pointed toward India’s to do something else, is not fair.
purchase of Russian oil amid western Summing up Latest Develop-
sanctions. ments in India’s Foreign Policy this
Clearly defining Indian position month, Jaishankar delivered a state-
on energy imports, Jaishankar said ment in Rajya Sabha on the heels of
India doesn’t send people out there India’s assumption of the G20 Pres-
to especially buy Russian oil. “We idency.
send people out there and say go Amid geopolitical crisis, food
buy oil. Now you buy the best oil you and energy insecurity, mounting debt
can in the market. So, I don’t think, I and challenges to climate action, he
would attach a political messaging to said the Modi government’s endeav-
that,” he said. or is to build consensus within the
Furthermore, he said, “...Tell me G20, and champion causes especially
if buying Russian gas is not funding of the Global South.
the war. Why is only Indian money Addressing the Parliament, the
and oil coming to India that funds minister said Prime Minister Nar-
and not gas coming to Europe? Let’s endra Modi’s government envisages
be a little even handed out here.” the G20 Presidency as an occasion to
In response to the erroneous showcase India to the world.
framing of the question, Jaishankar He emphasized that said India’s
even said Europe has to grow out of foreign policy today is no longer just
the mindset that Europe’s problem is an exercise of a Ministry or even sim-
the world’s problem but the world’s ply that of the Government. “It has a
problems are not Europe’s problem. direct impact on the daily lives of all
He also dismissed the connec- Indians.”
tion between the Ukraine conflict The external affairs minister said
and the India-China issue. “China the government’s aim in a difficult
and India happened way before any- global situation is that the welfare of
thing happened in Ukraine. ...I see the Indian people is ensured, how-
this, frankly not a very clever argu- ever challenging the circumstances.
ment, a self-serving one.” “Indian foreign policy is there to
He disagreed with the construct External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, in serve the Indian people; we will do
that a choice has to be made between New Delhi in December 2022 (ANI Photo) whatever it takes to discharge that
US and China. The minister pointed responsibility,” he added.

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