Trump: India Agreed to Stop Buying Russian Oil

Washington: United States President Donald Trump claimed on Thursday (IST) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him “today” that India would stop buying Russian oil. Hours later, India said it is "broad-basing and diversifying" its sourcing of energy to meet market conditions.

Responding to Trump's remarks, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that there had been no conversation between the two leaders on Wednesday (or Thursday IST). He said it has been New Delhi's consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario.

“India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective.

This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions,” New Delhi said.

Trump was quoted by reports as saying, “He (Modi) is a friend of mine, we have a great relationship... We were not happy with him buying oil from Russia because that let Russia continue on with this ridiculous war. I was not happy that India was buying oil, and (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step. Now we’ve got to get China to do the same thing.”

The US President suggested that the US wants India to stop procurement of Russian crude only to put financial pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. He said India could resume energy trade with Moscow after the Russia-Ukraine war is over.

“If India doesn't buy oil, it makes it much easier. They will not be buying oil from Russia and they'll go back to Russia after the war is over. He (Modi) is not buying his oil from Russia... He can't do it immediately. It's a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over soon,” Trump added.

While there was no outright denial in India's statement on Trump's claims regarding any move to stop the import of Russian oil, sources hinted that the reference to oil price stability in the statement is a clear indication that India will continue buying Russian oil.

On energy ties with the US, India said it has for many years sought to expand our energy procurement and that the current Trump administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. It added that discussions with the US over the deepening of energy ties are ongoing.”

Commenting on the issue, Russian ambassador to India Denis Alipov said that Russian oil supplies are beneficial to the Indian economy but that his country would not interfere in ties between the US and India.

“India and the US are independent in their decisions, and we do not interfere in those issues. Our oil supplies are very beneficial for the Indian economy and the welfare of the Indian people," the Russian envoy was quoted as saying,

The US President had in August this year imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, with half of this being a penalty for New Delhi buying Russian oil. He had declared earlier that his policy is to financially pressurise Russia into stopping the war by getting India and China to stop Russian oil imports. China is the biggest buyer of Russian oil, followed by India.