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world news Diasabra 19 Maart 2022

Russian oil sale to India complicates Biden's efforts

(AP) — President Joe Biden's spin" following Russia's inva- lenge of our time." Modi said
campaign to unite the globe sion of Ukraine, according to that India "stands ready to
against the Russian invasion a U.S. official familiar with join fellow democracies in
of Ukraine is being chal- the Biden administration's this noble endeavor."
lenged not only by adversar- deliberations. The official
ies such as China but also by spoke on the condition of The White House has pub-
the world's most populous anonymity to discuss internal licly warned China against
democracy, India. decision-making. siding with Russia during
the war in Ukraine, but it
An Indian government of- The oil deal is a reminder of has been more circumspect
ficial said Friday that the how the war in Ukraine has when addressing India's role.
country will increase its im- created a complicated geopo- Asked Friday about India's oil
ports of Russian oil, allowing litical balancing act for Biden. purchase, White House press
it to boost energy supplies Even as he tries to rally coun- secretary Jen Psaki acknowl-
at a discount as its economy tries to oppose Russia's inva- edged that even though the
struggles to recover from the sion, he also sees India as a U.S. has banned the import sia revolves more around ambassador to India, said the
coronavirus pandemic. The critical partner for counter- of Russian oil, "every country defense than energy. Russia South Asian nation "believes
official, who was not autho- ing China's rising influence has not made that decision." provides only a small fraction in strategic autonomy" and is
rized to talk to reporters and in Asia. of India's oil but the majority unlikely to line up neatly on
spoke on the condition of an- "They have different eco- of its military hardware. either side in conflicts be-
onymity, said the latest pur- Russia has long been a point nomic reasoning," she said. "It's critical for India's mili- tween the East and the West.
chase was 3 million barrels. of friction in U.S.-India rela- However, she cautioned oth- tary readiness, especially as
tions, but the White House er countries that "the rest of they have an ongoing border However, he expects New
Although India isn't alone believes the two democracies the world is watching where crisis with China," said Rich- Delhi to face additional pres-
in buying Russian energy — have more that's in common you're going to stand as it re- ard Rossow, an expert on the sure as the war in Ukraine
several European allies such than that divides them. lates to this conflict." U.S.-India relationship at the continues.
as Germany have contin- Imports make up 85% of In- Center for Strategic and In- "India is going to face an in-
ued to do so — the decision India is a member of the dia's oil needs, and its overall ternational Studies, which is creasingly challenging situ-
conflicts with Biden's efforts Quad, an international part- demand is projected to jump based in Washington. Twenty ation as Russia's atrocities
to isolate Russia's economy nership that also includes 8.2% to 5.15 million barrels Indian soldiers and four Chi- become more apparent and
with sanctions. the U.S., Australia and Japan, per day this year. nese soldiers died less than more widespread," he said.
and the leaders of all four na- Indian media reports said that two years ago in an ongoing "It's going to be difficult for
The increased flow of oil tions are slated to meet this Russia was offering a 20% territorial dispute over east- any country not to come out
could further strain the rela- year in Tokyo. discount on oil purchases be- ern Ladakh. and condemn this."
tionship between Washing- Although Indian Prime Min- low global benchmark prices.
ton and New Delhi, which ister Narendra Modi has a India abstained from a Unit- Biden has described the situ-
has already been tested by In- checkered record on human "We are exploring all possi- ed Nations Security Council ation as a work in progress.
dia's recent procurement of rights, he was invited to par- bilities in the global energy vote condemning the inva- Shortly after Russia's inva-
advanced Russian air defense ticipate in Biden's virtual market," India's External Af- sion of Ukraine, and the sion began, Biden was asked
systems. summit on democracy in De- fairs Ministry spokesman Russian embassy in New if India is "fully in sync" with
cember. Arindam Bagchi said Thurs- Dehli responded by saying it the U.S. on Russia.
The White House is still day. "I don't think Russia has "highly appreciate(s) India's
considering whether to enact During the summit, Biden been a major oil supplier to independent and balanced He responded that "we're
sanctions on India for that described the struggle be- India." position." in consultation" with India,
purchase. The issue is being tween democracy and au- adding that "we haven't re-
looked at with a "different tocracy as the "defining chal- India's relationship with Rus- Ken Juster, a former U.S. solved that completely."

Turkey builds massive bridge linking Europe and Asia

(AP) — The president suspension bridge, Turkish ous 1 1/2 hours by ferry, the and West, starting a new era of (6,637 feet) is in recogni-
of Turkey, South Korea's President Recep Tayyip Er- president said. peace and prosperity," South tion of the year 2023, when
prime minister and other dogan said. Korean Prime Minister Kim Turkey celebrates the cente-
officials inaugurated a "Turkey has overtaken Japan, Boo-kyum said during the nary of the founding of the
massive suspension bridge It connects the town of Geli- which has the longest bridge ceremony, in reference to the Turkish Republic following
Friday over the Darda- bolu, located in the European in the world in terms of the Canakkale region's historic the collapse of the Ottoman
nelles Strait that connects side of Turkey's northwestern midspan, and has taken the battlefields. Empire, Erdogan said. The
the European and Asian province of Canakkale, with first place," Erdogan said height of the bridge's towers
shores of the key water- the town of Lapseki on the during the inauguration cer- The bridge, which was build is 318 meters (1,043 feet) —
way. Asian side. The bridge allows emony. by a consortium of Turkish a nod to March 18 (or 3/18)
travelers to cross the Darda- The inauguration was and South Korean compa- when Turkey commemorates
With a a 2,023-meter (6,637 nelles — which connects the timed to coincide with the nies, will also strengthen the soldiers killed during the
feet) span between its towers, Aegean Sea with the Sea of 107th anniversary of Tur- bonds between Turkey and Gallipoli sea and land battles.
the "1915 Canakkale Bridge" Marmara — in just six min- key's World War I naval vic- South Korea, Kim said.
becomes the world's longest utes compared to the previ- tory over a joint British and The "1915 Canakkale Bridge" The World War I Gallipoli
French fleet attacking the cost 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 campaign aimed to secure a
Dardanelles. The failure of billion) to build but Turkey naval route from the Medi-
the naval campaign led to the will save 415 million euros terranean Sea to Istanbul
ill-fated 1915 landings on the ($458 million) per year from through the Dardanelles, and
Gallipoli peninsula by the al- a reduction of fuel consump- take the Ottoman Empire out
lies led by Britain and France tion and carbon emissions, of the war. The April 25, 1915
along with troops from Aus- Erdogan said. He announced Gallipoli landings marked
tralia and New Zealand. the bridge's toll will be 200 the start of a fierce battle
Turkish lira ($13.60). that lasted for eight months.
"The 1915 Canakkale Bridge Around 44,000 Allied troops
will leave this history of colli- The bridge's architecture is and 86,000 Ottoman soldiers
sion and conflict behind and awash with symbolism. It's died in the fighting.
will be a bridge between East central span of 2,023 meters