US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him that India will stop Russian oil purchases. However, India on Thursday responded to comments saying that the country’s energy sourcing is guided by its national interests and the need to protect Indian consumers.
Responding to media queries, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s oil purchases are guided by the principle of safeguarding the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario.
India Responds To Donald Trump’s Russian Oil Claim
“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. Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy. This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions,” the MEA spokesperson said.
“Where the US is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current Administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing,” he added.
What Donald Trump Claimed about India’s Russian Oil Buying
His remarks came after President Trump said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that India would stop purchasing oil from Russia, describing it as “a big step” in efforts to increase global pressure on Moscow.
Trump made the remarks during a joint news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel at the Oval Office, where the two highlighted the administration’s efforts to curb violent crime.
Responding to ANI’s question on whether he viewed India as a reliable partner, Trump said, “Yeah, sure. He’s (PM Narendra Modi) a friend of mine. We have a great relationship…I was not happy that India was buying oil. And he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big stop. Now we’ve got to get China to do the same thing…”
Reaffirming his close relationship with the Indian leader, he added, “He’s a friend of mine. We have a great relationship. He just said that two days ago, as you know.”
US Criticism on Indian Oil Imports: ‘Funding Russian War in Ukraine’
Trump, however, criticised India’s previous oil imports from Russia, stating, “We were not happy with him buying oil from Russia, because that lets Russia continue with this ridiculous war, where they’ve lost a million and a half people, by the way. Russia has lost a million and a half people, soldiers mostly.”
India has long defended its oil imports from Moscow as essential for economic stability, even as Washington has continued to urge New Delhi to diversify its energy sources.
Calling the ongoing conflict unnecessary, Trump said, “This is a war that should have never started, but it’s a war that Russia should have won in the first week, and they’re going into the fourth year. And I want to see it stop. So I was not happy that India was buying oil.”
He continued, “And he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big stop. Now I got to get China to do the same thing.”
Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and the Congress are using Trump’s comments to attack the government, alleging that PM Modi is “frightened” of Donald Trump.
(With inputs from ANI)
Also Read: Donald Trump Makes Big Claim, Says ‘India Will STOP Buying Oil From Russia’, Watch
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
