US President Joe Biden asked India’s Narendra Modi on Monday not to accelerate the buying of Russian oil as the US and other nations try to cut off Moscow’s energy income following the invasion of Ukraine.
Key points:
- Biden offered to help India diversify its energy sources and discouraged increasing imports of Russian oil
- US appealed to India to stand with other democracies ‘to defend values we all share’
- Indian media reported Russia offering an oil discount 20 per cent below benchmark prices
The Indian Prime Minister made no public commitment to refrain from Russian oil, a source of tension with the US.
Meeting by video call, Mr Biden told Mr Modi that the US could help India diversify its energy sources, according to press secretary Jen Psaki.
Even though India receives little of its oil from Russia, it stepped up recently with a major purchase as other democracies are trying to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While the two nations ended the meeting with Mr Biden saying they committed to strengthening their relationship, White House officials could not say if India stood with them in full condemning Mr Putin, saying the choice ultimately rested with Mr Modi’s government.
The two leaders will meet in person May 24 in Tokyo for a summit of the Quad, a coalition that also includes Australia and Japan.
India’s neutral stance in the war has raised concerns in Washington and earned praise from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who lauded India this month for judging “the situation in its entirety, not just in a one-sided way.”
Mr Biden opened the video conversation by emphasizing the defense partnership between the two countries and by saying the US and India were going to “continue our close consultation on how to manage the destabilizing effects of this Russian war” on food and other commodities.
“The root of our partnership is a deep connection between our people, family ties, friendship and shared values,” the US President said.
India to make its own decision
Mr Modi on Monday called the situation in Ukraine “very worrying,” and he noted that an Indian student lost his life during the war.
He said he had spoken with Mr Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, appealing to both of them for peace.
India has condemned the killings uncovered in the city of Bucha and has called for an independent investigation.
A senior US official described the Biden-Modi exchange as warm and productive, although the official stressed that India would make its own decisions on how to respond to Mr Putin.
The official insisted on anonymity to discuss the meeting.
Mr Biden and Mr Modi discussed how to manage the risks of global instability regarding food, humanitarian relief and climate change, and Mr Modi candidly shared his views on some of the close links between Russia and China that raise concerns, the official said.
Also Monday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met in person with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Mr Austin appealed to India to act together with fellow democracies, a form of government based on the popular consent of the people that stands in contrast to autocracies such as China and Russia.
India had refrained from some efforts to keep Russia accountable for its invasion.
India abstained when the UN General Assembly voted Thursday to suspend Russia from its seat on the 47-member Human Rights Council over allegations that Russian soldiers in Ukraine engaged in rights violations that the US and Ukraine have called war crimes.
The vote was 93-24 with 58 abstentions.
Reports of 20 per cent oil discount
India continues to purchase Russian energy supplies, despite pressure from Western countries to avoid buying Russian oil and gas.
The US has also considered sanctions on India for its recent purchase of advanced Russian air defense systems.
Last month, the state-run Indian Oil Corp bought 3 million barrels of crude from Russia to secure its needs, resisting entities from the West to avoid such purchases.
India is not alone in buying Russian energy, however. Several European allies such as Germany have continued to do so, despite public pressure to end these contracts.
Indian media reports said Russia was offering a discount on oil purchases of 20 per cent below global benchmark prices.
Iraq is India’s top supplier, with a 27 per cent share. Saudi Arabia is second at around 17 per cent, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 13 per cent and the US at 9 per cent, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
AP
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