The US-NATO alliance is trying to increase pressure on moscow in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war. As part of this, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, speaking after a recent meeting with US senators, warned that they are ready to impose 100 percent tariffs on countries like China, india, and brazil that buy oil and gas from Russia. "These countries have a responsibility to put pressure on Putin and shift the focus towards peace talks. Otherwise, they will face huge economic consequences," Rutte commented. These comments have led to a heated debate internationally.
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Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir jaiswal gave a strong counter to the NATO chief's comments. "We will not be complacent about the NATO chief's comments. We are watching the developments very closely. The energy needs of the indian people are of the utmost priority. india will take decisions based on available markets and keeping in mind the global situation," he clarified. Union Petroleum minister Hardeep Singh puri also responded to these comments, saying, "India does not have any other option. Earlier, we used to import crude oil from 27 countries. Now it has increased to 40 countries. We are committed to providing fuel to our people at the most affordable prices. Even if russia imposes sanctions on oil, we have alternative options." These comments indicate that india is ready to protect its economic sovereignty. The indian government has once again made its independent foreign policy clear. It has been stated that the interests of the people of the country are above them. "We will observe double standards. We will respond appropriately at the appropriate time," jaiswal said, indicating that india is taking NATO's stance seriously. These developments prove that India's economic and trade policies are different and that india has the ability to effectively deal with international pressures. india has made it clear with this latest response that it is moving towards self-sufficiency in terms of its basic needs and will not bow to any pressure. However, it is noteworthy that india, as a peace-loving country, is in favor of talks.Overall, India's counter to NATO makes it clear that the days of India's fear of the West are over and that india will not back down in protecting its interests. These developments are giving signs that india is ready to make its mark on the international stage.
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