India undermining US efforts to isolate Russia: Axios

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Axios considered Friday that China and India are two global powers that are undermining Western efforts to isolate Russia with their purchases of Russian oil and participation in major military exercises.

Despite EU countries cutting back their purchases of Russian oil over the war in Ukraine, Moscow's oil revenues are expected to increase by 38% this year, Reuters said.

China and India both dramatically increased their purchases from Russia, noted Axios.

According to the news website, "India accounted for less than 1% of Russia's oil exports" prior to the Ukraine war, but was "up to 13% by July, helping to offset Russia's lost market share in Europe."

Axios cited Tanvi Madan of Brookings Institution think tank as saying that India is trying to keep inflation low and recover economically from the Covid-19 pandemic, resorting to Russian oil instead of sky-high Gulf oil prices.

It is noteworthy that Indian Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, had called it an "obligation and moral duty" to secure the lowest-possible energy prices for Indian consumers, and Russia praised India for resisting the West's pressure.

Manoj Jain, chairman of India’s state-controlled energy company GAIL, said that India is currently in talks with Russia to resume gas supplies under the long-term import deal between Russian state energy giant Gazprom and the Indian company.

On its part, the White House is aiming to impose a price cap on Russian oil in order to stop Moscow from benefitting from the high oil prices.

In order to achieve this, the US will need India's support. Last week, US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo visited New Delhi and pointed out that he had "a very constructive conversation" with Indian officials on the price cap file.

However, Axios considered that "India has thus far been noncommittal. It stands to benefit from lower prices, but will be wary of provoking Moscow — particularly considering its military's overwhelming reliance on Russian arms."

In a related context, it is noteworthy that this week, India and China both participated in the Vostok war games in Russia along with several other countries.

Earlier on Thursday, the US expressed concern about India's involvement in the exercises.

Commenting on India's participation in the Vostok war games, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre indicated that the US "has concerns about any country exercising with Russia while Russia wages an unprovoked, brutal war against Ukraine."

Answering the question on the Vostok 2022 multilateral drills, the Indian spokesperson said that "India has been regularly participating in multilateral exercises in Russia along with several other countries."

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Report:

Some exclusive visual of Indian contingent at the opening ceremony of the Strategic command and staff exercise "Vostok-2022" held in Russia #Vostok2022 pic.twitter.com/PYU3FLD1pL

— OsintTv📺 (@OsintTv) August 31, 2022

But Arindam Bagchi, the Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, highlighted that "India has been regularly participating in multilateral exercises in Russia along with a number of other countries."

An informed source on the matter told Axios that India's troops will be "full-fledged" participants, not just observers, revealing that New Delhi has taken part in similar exercises in the past but doesn't "always publicize it."

Axios cited Tanvi Madan of the Brookings Institution think tank as saying that the Joe Biden administration knows that India's long-standing relationship with Russia won't fade away overnight. Madan added that it will attempt to diversify New Delhi's arms supply away from Moscow but will prioritize deepening its coordination in the Indo-Pacific region.