Will Russian oil imports be cut? India reiterates energy security comes first
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India has reiterated that its energy security needs remain its top priority amid US calls for New Delhi to stop buying oil from Russia.
Responding to questions at a press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s energy sourcing decisions are guided by the need to meet the requirements of its 1.4 billion people.
“Insofar as India’s energy sourcing is concerned, the government has stated publicly on several occasions that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians is the supreme priority of the government,” Jaiswal said. He added that diversifying energy purchases in line with market conditions and evolving international dynamics is central to India’s strategy.
This position reflects India’s long-standing stand on importing Russian oil, despite US concerns that revenue from oil exports helps fund Russia’s war in Ukraine, a claim Moscow has denied.
The MEA statement came after the White House said India had committed to stopping direct or indirect imports of Russian oil and would instead buy from the US. The claim was made in the context of the US withdrawing additional tariffs imposed on India over its purchase of Russian oil.
Russia, meanwhile, said India is free to source oil from wherever it chooses. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that Russia is not India’s only supplier and that India has long bought oil and petroleum products from multiple countries.
Under the broader framework of the India-US trade deal, India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of American food and agricultural products, including animal feed, tree nuts, fruits, soybean oil, wine, and spirits.
In return, the US will impose a reciprocal tariff of 18 percent on Indian-origin goods, covering sectors such as textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastics and rubber, organic chemicals, home décor, artisanal products, and certain machinery.