JAMMU, OCT 23: BJP spokesperson and Convenor, International Affairs, Gaurav Gupta on Friday defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, asserting that international recognition of India’s refining capabilities and its continued pursuit of independent energy decisions demonstrate the country’s growing strategic importance and commitment to national interests.
Reacting to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s reported visit to Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery in Gujarat, Gupta said the engagement highlighted India’s growing influence in global energy markets and the strategic value of its industrial infrastructure. He argued that American interest in India’s capacity to process Venezuelan crude reflected the importance of Indian refining expertise to international energy supply chains.
Describing India as a refining powerhouse, Gupta said the country had developed world-class industrial capabilities that were attracting the attention of major global economies. He pointed to Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar complex, with a combined refining capacity of approximately 1.4 million barrels per day, as an example of India’s industrial strength and its ability to handle complex crude-processing requirements.
“Those who repeatedly questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy should take note. India is not merely participating in the global energy market; it possesses industrial capabilities that major economies want to engage with,” Gupta said, adding that genuine strategic strength was reflected in infrastructure, technological expertise and partnerships that delivered tangible economic benefits.
Addressing criticism over India’s continued engagement with Russia on crude oil imports, the BJP spokesperson maintained that the government’s approach was guided by strategic autonomy, energy security and economic pragmatism. He said India’s foreign policy should be assessed on its ability to protect the interests of Indian consumers, industries and the wider economy rather than on whether New Delhi aligned its decisions with Washington’s preferences.
Gupta argued that energy procurement decisions involved complex commercial and geopolitical considerations, making it essential for India to retain the freedom to determine its own priorities. Referring to American pressure on India over Russian crude purchases, including tariff-related threats, he said the evolving international situation underscored the importance of maintaining a flexible diplomatic approach that safeguarded national interests.
“India will engage with America, Russia, Venezuela and every other country where cooperation serves our interests. We welcome partnerships, but partnerships cannot mean surrendering our right to make independent decisions. Our energy security and economic stability must remain paramount,” he said.
Gupta asserted that India’s ability to maintain engagement with competing global powers demonstrated the importance of diplomatic balance and strategic independence. He said meaningful foreign policy was not about unnecessary confrontation or political posturing, but about securing commercial opportunities, strengthening international partnerships and protecting national priorities in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.
He further maintained that India’s international standing should be evaluated through its industrial achievements, economic resilience, strategic partnerships and capacity to navigate competing global interests. According to Gupta, the recognition of India’s refining capabilities and its continued emphasis on independent energy decisions challenged the opposition’s portrayal of the Modi government’s diplomacy as weak.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy is about engaging with the world without compromising India’s autonomy. Whether it is energy, trade, technology or defence, the objective is to secure better outcomes for our people. India does not need to choose its partnerships according to someone else’s political convenience,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Gupta challenged opposition leaders to look beyond political allegations and acknowledge India’s expanding role in international affairs. He said the country’s ability to engage with major powers while retaining independent decision-making reflected a foreign policy centred on national interest, economic security and long-term strategic objectives.
