New Delhi: In a clear indication that the United States doesn’t want India to depend on Russia for defence needs, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby reiterated the stance once again on Friday.
“We’ve been very clear with India as well as other nations that we don’t want to see them rely on Russia for defence needs. We’ve been nothing but honest about that and discouraging that,” said Kirby.
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"At the same time, we also value the defence partnership that we have with India. And as was evidenced a week ago, we’re looking at ways to improve that going forward. That’s going to continue because it matters and it’s important,” he said.
“India is a provider of security in the region and we value that,” added Kirby.
The US in the past has extended support to India in diversifying its energy imports and has reiterated its desire that New Delhi does not purchase oil from Russia amid American sanctions on Moscow for attacking Ukraine.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had said, “We do not think India should accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy and other commodities even as, obviously, those decisions are made by individual countries."
In retaliation to the West, Russia has imposed sanctions on Meta Platform Inc’s Mark Zuckerberg and 28 other Americans.
The latest Russian “stop list” includes US Vice-President Kamala Harris alongside White House, Pentagon and State Department officials and the ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.