India’s Petroleum Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri announced in the parliament that India is in dialogue with Moscow to increase the oil imports from India. The government of India, makes an effort to keep a check on the spiralling prices of oil in India.
Further, the decision comes as India plans on maintaining the relationship with its long-time ally, Russia. India and Russia share good relations since the time China attacked India and Moscow helped New Delhi by supplying the arms it needed. Since then, Russia is the biggest supplier of weapons to India.
Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that he himself talked with the Russian federation. The Russian counterparts are in constant contact with the authorities regarding insurance, freight, and payment arrangements. According to Reuters, Indian officials depend for about 80% of oil needs on imports.
This includes 3% of its imports from Russia which amounts to about $1 billion. Besides, Indian officials were in close contacts with the Russian counterparts to import crude oil at a discounted price amidst the sanctions levied on Russia. Apart from that, India has also bought millions of barrels from the trade Vitol that will be delivered in May.
India’s standpoint regarding sanctions on Moscow
The west has imposed huge sanctions on Russia, moreover, majority of the world leaders have supported this cause since its invasion in Ukraine. On the other hand, India is balancing its neutral stand on the issue. India working closely with Ukraine and the west, and simultaneously stopping short of voting against Russia in the international forums.
Openly, India is not supporting the penalties imposed in Russia. However, it may infuriate the United States if it deals with Russia during the sanctions. Thus the west suggests India to limit its trade with Russia.
Nonetheless, the trade between India and Russia accounts for a very small size that is about $9 billion a year. This is much less than what Russia accounts for, with its largest trading partner, China. Hence, even if India tries to help Russia lift up some sanctions, it won’t make much of a difference.
India’s point of view concerning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
The United Nations has conducted at least 4 major votes either regarding condemning Russia’s attack, denouncing military’s movement in Ukraine, or asking for an independent international investigation. Majority of the countries supported the cause, however some were vetoed by Russia itself. But, India remained neutral in the entire voting.
It neither supported Russia’s attack but also did not criticized it. Though the people of India are supporting Ukraine by sharing their thoughts on Twitter, the Indian diplomats face a tense situation. India, which is strengthening its ties with its ally United States.
As well as, it has encountered the same situation in the past when it faced border issues from a more powerful and expansionist autocratic neighbor. The same India, is not standing with Ukraine on the international platform or openly criticize its long-standing ally?
But, India is determined that its stand will remain unwavering- India will not abandon Russia. The reasons are connected to the history and strategy. Further, it is also important for the west to not illustrate any ‘Democracy-vs-Autocracy’ kind of battle on an international platform.
The West suggests India to distance itself from Russia
The United States officials are constantly warning India over the consequences of its neutral stand. The officials have said that India must distance itself from Russia as much as possible. The west recognises India’s huge reliance on Moscow for nearly everything including arms and ammunitions to missiles and fighter jets.
The assistant US secretary of state for South Asian affairs, Donald Lu said, “It is going to be very hard for any country in the globe to buy major weapon systems from Russia because of the sweeping sanctions now placed on Russian banks”.
US Secretary of State for South Asian affairs, Donald Lu
India’s decision may also put it at a tense situation with its security partners regarding its rivalry with China. India’s security partners including the US, Japan and Australia form the anti-China “Quad” group.
With all of its allies criticizing Russia openly in UN and imposing heavy sanctions, develop a tense situation for India. However, India is most unlikely to vote against Russia and also remain unlikely to do so in the future.
Published By: Apoorva Wakodikar
Edited By: Subbuthai Padma
