Indian External Affairs Minister gives befitting response to US during 2+2 dialogue

Washington: Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar delivered a tight slap across the face of those objecting to Indian fuel purchases from Russia. Jaishankar put his finger on the dual-faced policies of the western countries, including the United States, while answering a question posed by a journalist during the joint press conference held after the Two-Plus-Two talks, in the presence of the US Secretaries of State and Defence. Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar lambasted that the fuel purchased by India in a month from Russia is equal to the fuel purchased by Europe by every evening.

Moreover, before the Two-Plus-Two talks between the Foreign and Defence Ministers of India and the United States, virtual talks were held between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden. Prime Minister Modi disposed of the objection that India is unwilling to take a firm stand on the Ukraine issue. Prime Minister Modi pointed out that even if India has adopted a non-aligned stand, India has made efforts to stop the war. Even after the Two-Plus-Two talks, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar emphasised this Indian stand in the joint press conference. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said India firmly believes that this issue can be resolved through negotiations.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar added ‘The strategic partnership between India and the United States has been developed on common interests, same values and consciously made efforts. Both the countries are entitled to a different outlooks, experiences and priorities. Both the countries realise the importance of these relations. There is a need to understand the ideologies each other in a better way. I feel that this has been achieved in these talks.’ External Affairs Minister also pointed out that this is reflected in the Indian policies.

During the Ukraine conflict, India has continued with all the possible efforts to curb the enmity. The External Affairs Minister pointed out that everyone has taken cognisance of this. Jaishankar underlined the importance of the QUAD cooperation between India, Japan, Australia and the United States, saying that it is a force for the betterment of the world.

Meanwhile, although US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said some good things about India during the Two-Plus-Two talks, he could not hide the displeasure and annoyance over India dismissing the unreasonable US demands. US Secretary of State said that the Indian cooperation with Russia was developed when the United States was not available to India as a partner. But now, the times have changed and the United States has become the partner of choice for India. But the US Secretary of state said that the United States is closely monitoring the human rights violations in India and noted that such incidents are on the rise. The Biden administration has already indicated that the issue of human rights violations in India will be raised. The statements of the US Secretary of State suggest that the next chapter in this will start soon. Secretary of State Blinken made a suggestive statement that the United States has still not decided whether to impose sanctions against India over the cooperation with Russia or to allow concessions.

Therefore, it is clear that the Biden administration will try to increase pressure on India by raising the baton of sanctions and the issue of said human rights violations soon. The Biden administration is not willing to take a tough stand against China, which does not believe in human rights. The Biden administration is also turning a blind eye toward the threats posed by China to other countries. The Biden administration has adopted a soft stand on the European fuel purchase from Russia. But the US Secretary of defence is issuing warnings to India on purchase of hardly 1% to 2% of the total fuel needed from Russia. Therefore, no matter what the Biden administration’s claims are, its policies are against India. India has realised this and thus, it has indicated that the Biden administration’s pressure won’t affect India. Besides, the Two-Plus-Two talks have suggested that the United States may target India.