Find out what else the MEA said( MEA ) 

New Delhi: The Indian government has once again made it clear that the country’s energy security is its top priority, especially when it comes to the energy needs of 1.4 billion Indians. Responding to a question about oil imports from Russia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson said that amidst volatility in the global energy market, India will prioritize the interests of its citizens. This statement comes at a time when there is an international debate on energy supply due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The MEA              ( MEA )     emphasized that India’s policy is balanced and independent, not dependent on any single country.

Energy security is the biggest priority
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press conference, “India’s energy security is based on the needs of 1.4 billion people. The government has publicly stated on several occasions that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians is the top priority of our government. Diversifying our energy sources in accordance with objective market conditions and the changing international environment is a key part of our strategy to ensure this. All of India’s decisions have been and will be taken keeping this in mind.”

‘Venezuela has been a long-standing partner’
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “As far as Venezuela is concerned, it has been a long-standing partner of ours in the energy sector, both in terms of trade and investment. We were importing energy and crude oil from Venezuela until 2019-20, after which we had to stop. Then, we resumed buying oil from Venezuela in 2023-24, but had to stop again after sanctions were reimposed. In line with our approach to energy security, India is open to exploring the commercial benefits of any crude oil supply, including from Venezuela.” Energy policy will not be influenced by external pressure
Jaiswal also clarified that India respects international sanctions but will not allow its energy policy to be influenced by any external pressure. According to data, since 2022, Russia has become India’s largest oil supplier, providing approximately 40 percent of its total imports. Previously, India was primarily dependent on Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq.