Pak Sahafat – The new US ambassador to India, stating that the relations between the two countries have always been strong, said: The dispute over the Ukraine issue will not prevent the development of our relations.
According to Pak Sahafat News Agency’s report from Reuters, the new American ambassador in New Delhi said: The friendship between the US and India has never been stronger than it is today, and the differences over the war in Ukraine will not hinder the relationship between the two.
Eric Garcetti said India has helped maintain the Russian oil price ceiling imposed by the Group of Seven, the European Union and Australia late last year to prevent Russia from accessing funds for its war with Ukraine.
Garcetti told CNN 18: We will not stop talking about Russia’s unjustified war against Ukraine, and despite not having an agreement with India; we do not want to damage this relationship because we know that we can do things together.
New Delhi has refused to condemn its old ally Russia over the Ukraine war and has increased trade with Moscow to record levels, largely due to cheap Russian oil imports.
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This country did not accept the criticism of Western countries and said that it defends its interests in buying Russian oil, most of which is below the price ceiling of 60 dollars per barrel.
Garcetti stated: There is no prohibition to buy oil with a fixed price ceiling, and India’s participation actually achieves this goal for us.
Washington is trying to deepen ties with India, and Joe Biden is eager to strengthen ties with India as part of his bid to win what he has framed as a competition between free societies and other countries, especially China.
He added: Defense and strategic relations between the two countries will continue and Washington will stand by New Delhi against Beijing.
Relations between India and China are at their worst in decades following a 2020 border clash between their forces in which 24 soldiers were killed.
Garcetti added: India can count on American friendship and strategic relations.