Alghadeer TV Alghadeer TV
In a veiled warning, the US government has asked India to consider its place in “history books” as the Narendra Modi government in New Delhi mulls Russia’s offer for discounted crude oil.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, said India’s plan to purchase cheaper crude from Moscow would amount to supporting the Russian “leadership”.
It comes as tensions between the US-led NATO military alliance and Russia continue to escalate amid the latter’s military operation in neighboring Ukraine, which has now entered its fourth week.
India, which imports almost 80 percent of its oil from abroad, buys just 2 to 3 percent from Russia.
However, with oil prices soaring dramatically amid the disruption in the global energy market, New Delhi is reportedly considering an attractive offer from Moscow.
“Russia is offering oil and other commodities at a heavy discount. We will be happy to take that,” an Indian government official was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
The official said such oil trade needed preparatory work including transportation, insurance cover, and getting the right mix of crude, without specifying the amount of oil and discount on offer.
Reacting to the reports, Psaki said nations should consider their role in history when dealing with Moscow amid the Ukraine crisis, but added that the move would not involve economic penalties.
“Our message to any country continues to be, obviously, abide by the sanctions,” she said.
“I don’t think this would be violating [the sanctions], but think about where you want to stand when the history books are written in this moment in time. And support for the Russian leadership is support for an invasion that obviously is having a devastating impact.”
According to reports, India and Russia are presently working out a bilateral trade mechanism involving rupees and rubles, on the line of a deal between Saudi Arabia and China in Chinese currency, yuan.
India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, speaking in the parliament on Tuesday confirmed that the government was engaged in discussions with Russia on crude oil purchases.
