S Jaishankar, Josep BorrellImage Credit source: @DrSJaishankar
India-EU: Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has responded to the Chief of the European Union, who demanded action on India in the Russian oil case. Josep Borrell of the European Union accused the Indian firm of refining Russian oil and selling it to Europe. The Foreign Minister responded to this in a press conference with a senior EU official in Brussels. He said that such exports do not violate the rules of the European Union.
Josep Borrell is the Chief of Foreign and Security Policy at the European Union. He claimed that Indian firms buy large quantities of oil from Russia, refine it and sell it to Europe as fuel. He demanded action from the European Union regarding this. Borrell said these things before a meeting of External Affairs Minister Jaishankar in Brussels. Jaishankar had reached here at the inaugural meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council.
… then Russian oil is no more – Foreign Minister
In response to a question in a joint press conference with the Executive Vice President in the European Union Commission, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that such exports do not violate the rules. My understanding is that if Russian crude is transformed in a third country, it is no longer Russian oil. He also cited rule number 833 of 2014, in which these things have been clarified.
need to talk with a friend, not point a finger
European Commission’s Executive Vice President Margaret Vestager also gave her response on the Foreign Minister’s reply. He said that there is no doubt about it… even if this is happening then we need to talk to our friend… not point fingers. Borrell had earlier claimed that the diesel and gas coming to Europe is being produced in India from Russian crude. This is definitely a breach of the rules and EU members should take action.
1.6 million barrels per day crude oil imports
India is currently Russia’s largest oil buyer. India has increased oil imports since the Russian attack on Ukraine. Russia itself had offered a discount on the purchase of oil to India. Since then India imports an average of 1.6 million barrels of oil per day. It is said that India has imported 40 percent of the total imports from Russia in the month of March. India has been criticized for buying cheap oil from Russia. Those who are staunch supporters of sanctions on Russia are particularly involved in the criticism.
