‘It’s Not Jaishankar’s View, I Express Mood of The Country’: EAM on ‘New India’s’ Foreign Policy Under Modi – News18

In a newly released podcast, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has outlined the country’s ‘clear’ foreign policy choices made by the Narendra Modi government which have been pivotal in navigating India’s interests amid issues like the Ukraine conflict.

In an interview released on Thursday, influencer Raj Shamani asked Jaishankar what has prompted “new India’s” firm stance, including India’s purchase of Russian crude, while dealing with world powers on the global stage. “We could have bought the Russian oil clandestinely. We could have said something and could have done something. It would not have been maintainable,” the minister said, while interacting with Shamani who has over two million subscribers on YouTube.

Russia has been a longstanding and time-tested partner for India, with defence ties with Moscow being a key pillar of New Delhi’s foreign policy. Historically, Russia was a minor exporter of fuel to India but Delhi began boosting shipments after the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022. While expanding trade with Moscow, New Delhi consistently called for “complete cessation of all hostilities”. On the issue of Russian oil imports, India has also maintained that it will continue to take calls based on its national interest.

‘We are a big country’

The external affairs minister asserted that a country like India should take a clear stand on issues like the Russian oil trade, which is key for the country’s energy security. “Today, we are a big country. We are the fifth-largest economy and we are the most populous country. We are looking at a great future ahead. You cannot rise without being clear,” he added.

In the podcast, the external affairs minister said that when he sits with foreign governments, he explains to them, the adverse impact of sanctions on Russian oil exports and highlights India’s role in stabilising the global market.  “Let’s say If we would not have bought Russian gas or oil. What would have happened to the global market? We did you guys a favour by buying Russian crude. We have actually stablised the market,” he added.

‘Mood of the country’

Further explaining the question on what has prompted India’s firm stand on the Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar said, “When you have a team like this, under a Prime Minister like this (Narendra Modi), one tends to internalise this. When the appropriate time comes, you express it (India’s view),” he said. “People may say I said that I said it. But I expressed what is actually the mood of the country. This is not Jaishankar’s personal view. The reason people responded was… this is what we feel.”

Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recalled how Jaishankar delivered a strong response to European leaders during a UN speech, telling them “to mind their own business” when they questioned why New Delhi continued to align itself with Moscow. He made these remarks while responding to a question on India’s oil purchases during the World Youth Forum in the Russian city of Sochi. During an interactive session, Lavrov stressed the historical ties between the two countries, particularly Moscow’s support for New Delhi during the Cold War period.