Page 18 - The Indian EYE 032522

Op-ED MARCH 25, 2022 | The Indian Eye 18

Russian oil, sanctions and India’s

strategic autonomy

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

eports that India is close to
clinching a deal with Russia
Rfor buying 3.5 million barrels
of its crude at deep discounts appear
to have divided opinions in the West.
But crucially, the US has indicated
that should India go ahead with the
purchase, it may not violate Ameri-
can sanctions already in place against
Russia. After all, despite the war in
Ukraine, European nations are con-
tinuing to buy energy from Russia.
The European dependence on
Russian energy is also why the US did
not go for a complete ban on Russian
oil exports and chose instead to just
bar Russian energy imports into the
US. In fact, the EU recently discussed
new sanctions against Russian oil ma-
jors Rosneft, Transneft and Gazprom
Neft but clarified that it will continue
to buy oil from them. Hence, nobody
has moral grounds to question India
in case it goes ahead with the Russian
oil deal. Besides, 3.5 million barrels
don’t constitute a big volume for India
given its daily consumption of 4.5 mil-
lion barrels. In any case, Russian oil Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the interaction with stakeholders involved in Ukraine evacuation (ANI)
only accounts for 2% of total Indian
imports. Therefore, the transaction is Putin to the notice of the West were sonal control over China’s govern- supporting sanctions against Russia.
more symbolic in nature and will serve his first two achievements — the sta- ment, the ruling Chinese Communist It was in our national interest to take
as a test case for New Delhi-Moscow bilization and increase in oil produc- Party, the armed forces and security this position rather than rush head-
trade in the new environment. tion and export that hugely increased agencies. They are encouraged to long into the American camp. Our
-- Editorial, The Times of India the Russian GDP, and secondly, be aggressive. This has elicited a strategic relations with them are in
his successful suppression of the cautionary note from Jia Qingguo, a the Indo-Pacific and not in Europe.
ars produce much retro- Chechnya revolt. These were clearly prominent foreign policy advisor. India has two unresolved borders
spective literature, and
The Chinese government is
Weven World War I contin- the achievements of a man with a vi- being cautioned that a similar ap- with nuclear countries and a history
sion for Russia. Unfortunately, it was
of wars and conflicts with them. We
ues to produce fresh narratives, rais-
ing never before addressed issues. ignored in the West, and particularly proach had led to the downfall of the can expect some material support
former Soviet Union. Ironically, Xi
in Europe, which was busy with civil-
and more condemnation in global
Perhaps we are too close to the events ianizing and militarily downgrading has drawn upon the instance of the fora, Russia might return the favour
of the Russo-Ukraine war to produce NATO. collapse of the former Communist by abstaining to vote at the UN, but
a truly dispassionate account of the -- Raja Menon, Party of the Soviet Union, of which little else. They will also be busy re-
events that built up to the invasion. The Indian Express he insisted that matters had reached building their economy after this war
Of course, Vladimir Putin imprisons such a stage that “nobody was man and consequent sanctions.
anyone who calls the invasion a war. ursuit of aggressive power by enough to stand up and resist”. But is Future wars will be also fought
His version is that it was a “special China appears unremitting, es- Xi also not constricting the room for by indigenous weapons and equip-
military operation”, akin to India’s Ppecially under the current Chi- salubrious divergence of views within ment. We have to, therefore, make
police action against Hyderabad in nese dispensation led by President
1948. This article is admittedly written Xi Jinping. The Chinese president’s his own regime? That could lead to ourselves self-reliant. Atmanirbhar-
ta (self-reliance) in defense require-
the piling up of resentment against
in hindsight, but there is a continuing immediate predecessors believed governmental dynamics, thereby ments is the need of the hour.
thread to the western blunders in the China should continue to bide its downgrading the purpose of security Lt Gen (Retd) Satish Dua,
approach to dealing with Moscow, time by presiding over rapid econom- overhaul and national rejuvenation. The Quint
particularly concerning Putin. He has ic growth and continuous expansion
had a dramatic rise in the political of influence through tactical integra- -- Ranajoy Sen, The Telegraph (India) Every week, we look at what the top
hierarchy of Moscow, with many of tion into the global order. Xi, howev- ndia took a nuanced position and commentators in the Indian media are
his successes unexplained but for the er, wants to challenge the prevailing tread a judicious path as far as talking about and bring to you a slice
strong behind-the-scenes backing of global order. To abet this approach, Icriticizing the Russian invasion of their opinions and comments
the FSB. What should have brought Xi has ensured an unfettered, per- is concerned, but it stopped short of

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