New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday humorously praised India for maintaining a balanced relationship with the US amid ongoing trade with Russia and said it is not a problem for us. Interestingly, when Jaishankar was making this comment in a session of a security conference in Munich, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock were also present on the same stage.
Jaishankar was asked the question, “How is India balancing its growing bilateral relations with the US while continuing trade with Russia?” In response he said, “Is this a problem, why should it be a problem? I am so smart that I have many options, you should praise me.”
US Secretary of State Blinken was sitting next to him. This is not the first time that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has expressed India’s stance and commitment to buy cheap Russian oil. Even before on many forums, he has clearly stated India’s stand.
panel discussion on @MunSecConf,#MSC2024 pic.twitter.com/oJ5m652aBz
—Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) 17 February 2024
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also expressed concern over the current situation in Gaza and said that India has been saying for many decades that there should be a two-state solution to the Palestine issue and now a large number of countries are not only supporting it but also putting it first. are considered “more necessary” than.
The Foreign Minister described the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israeli cities as ‘terrorism’, but also noted Tel Aviv’s response that Israel has an international obligation to follow humanitarian law. Jaishankar said that it is important that Israel should be very conscious of civilian casualties.
Clarifying India’s position on the conflict, he said that it has various aspects and these have been broadly classified into four points. He said, “First point – we must be clear that what happened on October 7 was terrorism; There is no doubt about it, this was terrorism.”
Jaishankar said, “The second point, as Israel retaliated, it is important that Israel should have been very careful about causing civilian casualties. It has an international obligation to abide by humanitarian law.” Referring to the third point, the Foreign Minister said that the return of the hostages is necessary today. He said that the fourth point is the need for a humanitarian corridor to provide relief.
,
Tag: Russia, S Jaishankar, United States of america
first published : February 18, 2024, 06:09 IST
