India reaffirms energy independence amid Trump’s claims on Russian oil
New Delhi, Oct 16: India on Thursday reaffirmed that its energy sourcing decisions are guided solely by national interest and consumer welfare, following US President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him New Delhi would stop purchasing oil from Russia, a move Trump described as a “big step” toward ending the Ukraine war.
Responding to media queries on the remarks made by President Trump, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s import policies are driven by energy security and market realities, not by political considerations.
“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,” Jaiswal said at the ministry’s weekly briefing. He emphasised that ensuring stable energy prices and secure supplies remain the “twin goals” of India’s energy policy, which includes “broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions.” On energy cooperation with Washington, Jaiswal noted that India and the US have steadily expanded their engagement over the past decade.
“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 said.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, said that his “friend” Prime Minister Modi had assured him that India would “stop purchasing oil from Russia.” Trump described the alleged assurance as a “big step” toward increasing pressure on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. We were not happy that India was buying Russian crude,” Trump said, claiming that such purchases helped “finance President Vladimir Putin’s war.”
The comments triggered political ripples in New Delhi, with the opposition Congress party accusing Prime Minister Modi of ceding India’s sovereign decision-making to Washington. According to the Press Trust of India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Modi appeared to have “outsourced key decisions to America” and continued to “send congratulatory messages despite repeated snubs.”
“Modi allowed Trump to decide and announce that India will not buy Russian oil,” Gandhi alleged, calling the episode “an embarrassment for India’s foreign policy autonomy.” India has maintained that its crude oil purchases from Russia are a function of national interest and economic logic, especially in light of fluctuating global prices and energy insecurity following the Ukraine conflict. The government has repeatedly asserted that such imports are conducted within the framework of international law and do not violate sanctions. Analysts note that India’s position — balancing its strategic partnership with the United States while keeping ties with Russia intact — underscores New Delhi’s broader diplomatic approach of “strategic autonomy.” With over 85% of its crude needs met through imports, India has consistently argued that energy affordability and stability take precedence in its decision-making.
