India decided to buy Russian oil for an unconvincing reason, Moscow temporarily took the lead in the “diplomatic war” in the country of billions of people.
India has become a magnet for Russian and Western diplomats
The Western press said that Lavrov went to New Delhi to persuade India to keep a neutral position on the conflict in Ukraine and ignore Western sanctions to continue buying Russian oil through the payment mechanism. ruble.
On April 1, Lavrov met his counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, expressing that Russia appreciates India’s neutral stance. The head of the Russian foreign ministry stressed that India should “see this situation on the basis of the whole truth, not just listen to it one way”. It is likely that Foreign Minister Lavrov will also have a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
But behind these ordinary diplomacy lies a dramatic story. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit comes shortly after British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and US Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh concluded their visit to India. The British press described Ms. Truss’ visit as an anti-Russian impulse.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right) and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi on April 1.
Mr. Singh has been described as one of the main architects of anti-Russian sanctions. Not only present in India, this man also made many other trips to mobilize allies and neutral countries to be stronger with Russia.
The visit of the British Foreign Secretary and the US Deputy National Security Adviser to India also has a similar purpose. Meanwhile, Russia describes its relationship with New Delhi as a “special and privileged strategic partnership”. Russia equates its relationship with India with its relationship with China. Before that, Mr. Lavrov also visited the world’s second economy and worked with his counterpart Wang Yi.
Continue to buy Russian oil in the national interest
In the past, many Western countries have voiced concerns about India increasing oil purchases from Russia at a super discount. During the recent trip, US Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economics Daleep Singh said the Biden administration does not want to see India increase its crude oil purchases from Russia.
Meanwhile, speaking from Washington, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said India’s continued purchase of cheap oil from Russia was “disappointing” and again urged New Delhi not to take the side that the Americans described. described as “right”. The British side said it was no different from the US.
However, pressure from the West was not enough to stop India from buying Russian oil. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India will continue to buy cheap Russian oil in the national interest even as the West continuously increases pressure to isolate Moscow.
“We have started buying. We have received quite a lot of oil and I think this amount is enough for the whole of India needs for about 3-4 days. We will continue to buy. It is in India’s interest that this is the main thing. needs to be focused,” Mr. Sitharaman told CNBC on April 1.
On March 31, Bloomberg reported that Russia was selling more oil to India at about $35 per barrel below pre-conflict prices. Cheap crude oil plays an extremely important role in the Indian economy. This billion-people nation has to import up to 85% of its energy needs from outside.
In the context of rising global oil prices, retailers have begun to raise prices, pushing the burden onto consumers. It also puts pressure on the Indian Government to cut fuel tax, especially when the price of Brent oil is always hovering above $100/barrel.
“I will put the energy security of my country first. If there is cheap fuel, why shouldn’t we buy it?”, Mr. Sitharaman asked.
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