Jaishankar’s razor-sharp reply silences Australian journalist over ‘angst’ on Indo-Russia ties

EAM Jaishankar

In a recent interview with an Australian news channel, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed India’s stance on its relationship with Russia.

Responding to whether India recognizes the “angst” this relationship causes Australia, Jaishankar told Sky News Australia’s Sharri Markson: “I don’t think we have given cause for any angst. In today’s world, countries don’t have exclusive relationships.”

The minister then drew a Pakistan parallel: "If I were to use that logic, I would say so many countries have relationship with Pakistan. Look at the angst it should cause me."

The minister went on to explain that India’s close ties with Russia are actually beneficial for the international community. “Our relationship with Russia allows us to be an intermediary with the ability to communicate with both Russia and Ukraine, and to seek some common ground. I believe the world, including Australia, needs a country like that to help bring this conflict back to the negotiation table.”

Australia, which supports Ukraine and has supplied weapons to Kyiv, has stood firmly against Russia since the conflict began in 2022. At the time, former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had urged the world to treat Russia as a “pariah state.”

When Western nations imposed sanctions on Russia, India chose to continue purchasing Russian oil to meet its energy needs, a decision that drew criticism.

Jaishankar, dismissed the West’s concerns, urging Europe to “grow out of the mindset that Europe’s problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problems.” He emphasized India’s right to prioritize its energy security and, at a later event, noted that Russia has never acted against India’s interests.

peaking to Sky News, Jaishankar highlighted the importance of India-Australia relations and said, “The relationship with Australia has so much value because today we have that trust, we have that sensitivity, we are developing that experience of working together."

“So there are a lot of things, you know, I’d be comfortable getting out of Australia or doing with Australia, which I may not be with some other countries," he said.