‘If I’m smart enough… you should admire me’: Jaishankar’s response to India’s purchase of Russian oil Watch

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday defended India’s “comprehensive alliance” approach to diplomacy, saying India deserved admiration for its ability to foster global ties, including with Russia and the United States. He, however, advised against labeling India an “unemotional transactional” country.

Jaishankar made the remarks while responding to a question at the Munich Security Conference on whether India’s Western partners approved its purchase of Russian oil during the conflict in Ukraine. “If I’m smart enough to have options, then you should admire me,” he said, sitting on the panel next to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock.

“No, you shouldn’t criticize. Is this a problem for others? I don’t think so. We try to explain which countries have what different pulls and pressures.” Jaishankar’s answer to whether New Delhi could choose to ally with countries like Russia and the United States stated that it is very difficult to establish a single-dimensional relationship.

Not an “emotionless transaction”

Elaborating on the alliance issue, Jaishankar said India’s approach was not an “unemotional transaction”. “We get along with people. We believe some things, we share some things, we agree on some things. I think it’s very important today not to reduce the whole complexity of our world to very general propositions. I think today That era has passed. So I very much agree with what Tony said, which is, good partners, provide choices. Smart partners, please make some choices,” he added.

When asked whether the rise of the BRICS would pose a challenge to Western countries, Jaishankar said that about 30 countries are willing to join the BRICS and see the value of the BRICS. “There must be something good about it,” he said. “It is important today to distinguish between non-Western and anti-Western. I would certainly describe India as a non-Western country but one that has extremely strong relations with Western countries and the relations are improving,” he added.

Israel and Hamas conflict

When asked about the war between Israel and Hamas, Jaishankar said: “First, we must be clear that what happened on October 7 was terrorism. No warning, no reason, no explanation. This is terrorism.” “Second, as Israel responds, it is important that Israel should be, should be, very concerned about civilian casualties and that it has an obligation to abide by international humanitarian law,” he said.

“Third, the return of the hostages is imperative today. Fourth, a humanitarian corridor, a sustainable humanitarian corridor, is needed to deliver relief. Ultimately, there must be a permanent solution, a long-term solution, Otherwise, we will see the problem reoccur,” he added. Jeshkar further said that India has long believed in the two-state solution and the country has maintained this position for decades.