Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:14pm on 14 Feb 2026,Saturday India Global
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar strongly defended India's strategic autonomy at the Munich Security Conference, rejecting claims that a US trade deal compels ditching Russian oil. He emphasized strategic autonomy is deeply rooted in India's history and cuts across the political spectrum. Jaishankar explained Indian oil companies, like European counterparts, choose suppliers based on availability, costs, and risks. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri earlier stated India's energy choices follow "national interest" through sufficient supply, fair prices, and reliable sources. He noted India imports most oil/gas from dozens of countries, diversifying to avoid single-source dependency. India currently imports 35% crude from Russia but has increased US crude to 10% of total imports.
