Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla with US Deputy NSA Dalip Singh at a meeting in New Delhi on March 31, 2022
In a stern statement, the US warned on Thursday that there would be consequences for countries actively attempting to “block or backfill”. US sanctions against Russia On his invasion of Ukraine. Speaking of India, Washington said it would not like to see a “rapid” acceleration in India’s imports of energy and other goods from Moscow.
Visiting India’s Deputy National Security Adviser Dalip Singh addressed a press conference after meeting with top Indian officials, including Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. Singh said the US would not like to see any country indulging in financial transactions with the Russian central bank. Referring to the “no border” partnership between Moscow and Beijing, Singh said India should not expect Russia to come to its rescue if China violates the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Singh said India’s current imports of Russian energy do not violate any US sanctions, but added that Washington wants its allies and partners to find ways to reduce their reliance on an “unreliable supplier”. .
The US deputy NSA, who was instrumental in designing US sanctions against Russia, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday on a two-day visit, in the backdrop of growing unease among Western powers by India for not criticizing Russia for its attack on Ukraine. Happened in the background.
“We would not like to see mechanisms designed to push the ruble forward or undermine the dollar-based financial system or circumvent our financial sanctions,” he told a small group of reporters.
His remarks came on a day when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in India on a two-day visit to discuss a ruble-rupee payment mechanism for bilateral trade, including the purchase of Russian oil by New Delhi.
“What we don’t want to see is rapid acceleration India’s import from Russia Because it relates to energy or any other exports that are currently being restricted by the US or other aspects of the international sanctions regime.”
Singh was asked about India’s decision to buy subsidized oil from Russia.
There was no response from the government on comments made by the US deputy NSA.
“I am here to explain the mechanism of our sanctions, to express a shared resolve and to explain the importance of engaging with us to advance our shared interests. And yes, there are consequences for countries that are actively pursuing these sanctions. try to sideline or take them back,” he said.
Read also | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s two-day visit to India begins amid Ukraine dispute
He said the US is ready to help India meet its energy and defense equipment needs.
“So the conversation I’ve had here is that we stand ready to help India diversify its energy resources, just like it does with defense resources,” he said.
Referring to cooperation under the Quad Framework, Singh said the alliance recognizes that China is a strategic threat to a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific.
“If you set this against the reality that China and Russia have now announced a no-border partnership, and Russia has said that China is its most important strategic partner, then it has real implications for India,” Singh said. effect.”
He said Russia Going to be a junior partner in this regard with China and suggested that such partnership would be detrimental to India’s interests.
“And the more advantage China gains over Russia, the less favorable it is for India. I don’t think anyone will believe that if China once again breaches the Line of Actual Control, Russia will defend India. will run for,” he said. ,
“And so this is the context in which we really want democracies around the world, and the Quad in particular, to come together and voice their shared interests and their shared concerns about development in Ukraine and the impacts of the Indo-Pacific. Give.” said.
The US deputy NSA said the impact of the Russian invasion would be disastrous if it was not controlled.
“Think of the chilling effect that will cause uncertainties, the signal that will be sent to autocrats around the world who want to impose their own spheres of influence, threaten their neighbours, perhaps at India’s doorstep. And they There are costs that we are not willing to accept,” he said.
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Asked about the possible consequences of the attempt to circumvent the sanctions, Singh said, “It is a matter of private discussion which I am not going to share publicly.”
Singh said the US is having “sincere talks” with Indian government officials on the Ukraine crisis.
“And the truth is that the main principles at stake in our decision are the basic principles that underpin peace and security throughout the world, the principle that you cannot redraw borders by force, the principles that you can do as you wish. For free peoples, that countries have the right to decide their own path and choose their own destiny,” he said.
“And (Vladimir) Putin is violating all those principles. And that’s why we’re imposing these sanctions. That’s why we’re supporting Ukraine’s fight for independence,” Singh said.
The US official said that democracy must stand up to protect the fundamental principles that are the basis of peace and security around the world.
“And when democracies do not stand in solidarity and defend those principles together, the cost and risk to all of us become so great,” he said.
“That’s why it’s important that we move forward in the broadest possible coalition because this is not a one-sided exercise in brute American force. It’s not like that,” he said.
Singh said Russia’s “unnecessary war” has resulted in dire consequences for the world.
“I know that unnecessary wars of the likes of Putin have consequences, consequences. You see them here in India and of course in energy prices in the US and all over the world.
“You see them in food prices, refugee flows, trade disruptions. But it’s important not to forget the root cause of those consequences is Putin’s war. And in our judgment, if dictators don’t pay the price for their aggression, So they continue to sow chaos all over the world,” he said.
After the talks between Shringla and Singh, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the two sides discussed India-US economic cooperation and strategic partnership.
Bagchi tweeted, “Foreign Secretary Harshavshringla met Sherpa Dalip Singh, US Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics and G20. Discussed India-US economic cooperation and strategic partnership. Together on global issues of mutual interest, including the G20 Look forward to working.”
Read also: Russia opened fire on areas in Ukraine it vowed to scale back, including the capital Kyiv
(with PTI input)