India: The Indian Diplomat and External Affair Minister of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has recently given an interview to an Austrian public broadcaster during his three days visit to the central European country.  

During the interview, a chain of questions was thrown at the Indian External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, about the reluctant approach of India towards Russia. In response, the External Affairs Minister stated that Europe has managed to reduce its imports and trades in such a manner that is comfortable for the continent’s government, which is manageable and has not many negative effects on the per capita income of Russia.

While answering the interviewer, Minister Jaishankar further added that every country was looking after their citizen’s best interests and gave an example that if the per capita income of the European people is around 60,000, (Sixty thousand) euros and the government is giving priority and care to its people which is fine for them. 

On the other hand, he also has a population of 2000 (Two thousand) dollars, which also requires energy and other resources while the oil prices are rapidly increasing and need immediate attention. Minister S. Jaishankar added.

Furthermore, External Affairs Minister continued his remarks and said that Europe has also moved its production out of the middle east and raising prices continuously. He added that the actions coming from Europe are putting heavy pressure on the oil market on the global level and India’s impulses.

Moreover, he also pointed out that understandably if the European political leadership is making a move to soften the impacts of these things on their regions and populations, it is also a privilege and responsibility which should extend to the other political leaders.

In addition, when asked about the reluctancy of the Indian External Affairs Minister towards the imports and trades from Moscow, Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar confirmed that India shared a longstanding relationship with Moscow and conveyed that it is important to understand the history of the relationship and cooperation between the two nations first. 

He added, “It was the relationship which started when the other western democracies were supporting and arming the military dictatorship known as Pakistan, at the same time denied India’s defensive weapons and operations.”

Additionally, an Indian Diplomat said, “We should have a look at the history first if we are discussing the principles out here, and underlined that the exposure of India with Russia and the Soviet Union was previously built because western governments and democracies decided to support the military dictatorship in the history”. 

In the end, External Affairs Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar concluded that “India is a democratic country and doesn’t perceive itself in alliance terms.”