New Delhi, February 14 India is firmly committed to its policy of "strategic autonomy," and the country's energy procurement will be driven by factors such as costs, risks, and availability, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Saturday, in response to Washington's claim that New Delhi has agreed to stop importing Russian crude oil.
In an interactive session with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at the Munich Security Conference, Jaishankar said the global energy market is "complex," and India's oil companies will make decisions based on what they consider to be in their best interest.
"We are very much committed to strategic autonomy because it is a fundamental part of our history and our evolution. And it is something that cuts across the political spectrum," he said.
"As far as energy issues are concerned, this is a complex market today. I think the oil companies in India, as in Europe, and probably in other parts of the world, look at availability, look at costs, look at risks, and make decisions that they feel are in their best interest," he said.
The external affairs minister was responding to a question about whether India would stop buying Russian oil under the provisions of a trade deal, and whether such a move could impact New Delhi's policy of strategic autonomy.
India has not yet confirmed or denied Washington's claim that it has committed to stopping the procurement of Russian crude oil.
Following a recent phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump, both sides announced a reduction of US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent.
The reduction included the removal of a 25-per cent tariff that Trump had imposed on India in August last year for New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil.
Jaishankar said that India retains the option of making independent decisions, without always agreeing with its partners in the West.
"We would not necessarily agree on everything, but I do believe that by doing that, and if there is an inclination to find common ground and overlaps, that would happen," he said.
"If the bottom line of your question is – would I remain independent-minded and make my decisions, and would I make choices that may not agree with your thinking – yes, it can happen," he said.
The external affairs minister also strongly called for reforms in the United Nations, especially in light of the profound changes that the world has been witnessing.
These developments also underline the need to reform the UN, especially after the world experienced a series of shocks over the last five years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine conflict, tensions in the Middle East, and the rise of China and its impact on global systems, he said.
