Jaishankar Slams Selective Tariffs on Russian Oil by US

New Delhi:In a strong message to the United States amid the American sanctions on Russian oil and tariffs on Indian exports for importing it, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Monday said that the global “energy trade is increasingly constricted, with resulting market distortions” and that “principles are applied selectively and what is preached is not necessarily practised”.

Delivering India’s national statement at the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, the minister also said that “terrorism poses a continuous and corrosive threat (and that) the world must display zero tolerance”. In another message to Washington amid the strengthening of ties between the US and Pakistan, the minister noted there is no room for ambivalence, adding that “our right of defence against terrorism can never be compromised”.

The EAS mechanism comprises the 11-member Asean bloc, besides India, China, Russia, the United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. “We wish to propose an EAS Maritime Heritage Festival to be held in the ancient port of Lothal in Gujarat. We also intend to host the seventh EAS Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation,” Mr Jaishankar said.

On the sidelines of the summit and amid strains in bilateral ties, Mr Jaishankar met US secretary of state Marco Rubio and soon after posted on X: “Glad to meet @SecRubio this morning in Kuala Lumpur. Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues.” He also met Japan’s foreign minister Motegi Toshimitsu and also Australian PM Anthony Albanese. All four nations are members of the Quad.

Talking about the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts, the EAM stated: “We are also witnessing conflicts that have significant repercussions, near and far. Deep human suffering apart, they undermine food security, they threaten energy flows and they disrupt trade. India, therefore, welcomes the Gaza peace plan. We also seek an early end to the conflict in Ukraine.”

On maritime security, the EAM said: “Our commitment to furthering maritime cooperation remains strong, in line with the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and our shared commitment to the 1982 UNCLOS. 2026 will be observed as the Asean-India year of maritime cooperation. Notably, more nations have joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.” It may be noted that China has maritime territorial disputes with some of Asean nations like the Philippines and Vietnam. Outside the Asean bloc too, China has maritime territorial disputes with Japan.

Speaking about global economic concerns, the EAM told the summit: “There are growing concerns about the reliability of supply chains and access to markets. Technology advancement has become very competitive; the quest for natural resources even more so. … But change has a life of its own. And the world will inevitably respond to new circumstances. Adjustments will be made, calculations will come into play, fresh understandings will be forged, new opportunities will emerge and resilient solutions will be devised.” He added: “At the end of the day, the realities of technology, of competitiveness, of market size, digitization, connectivity, of talent and of mobility cannot be ignored. Multipolarity is not just here to stay but to grow. All these warrant serious global conversations.”

Highlighting India’s positive role in the region, Mr Jaishankar said: “Excellencies, on Myanmar, we were a ‘First Responder’ during the March earthquake. Our project on the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, in which all of us have stakes, continues to progress. We share the concern about cyber scam centres in the region which has also entrapped our nationals. India values EAS’ contribution to peace, progress and prosperity.”