India on Saturday reiterated that ensuring energy security for its population remains its top priority, amid claims made by US President Donald Trump that New Delhi would stop buying Russian oil under the India–US trade framework.
As US President Donald Trump continues to claim that New Delhi would stop buying Russian oil under the India–US trade framework, India on Saturday reiterated that its energy policy is guided by the need to ensure reliable supplies for its population.
At a press briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs said energy security for 1.4 billion people remains the government’s top priority and that diversification of energy sources is central to India’s strategy.
“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,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
“Diversifying our energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy. All of India’s actions are taken and will be taken with this in mind,” he added.
US pressure over Russian oil
The statement reflects India’s long-standing position amid US pressure to curb imports of Russian oil. Washington has argued that revenues from Russian energy exports are being used to fund the war in Ukraine, a charge that Moscow has denied.
The MEA’s remarks came after the White House said India had committed to stopping direct or indirect imports of Russian oil and would increase energy purchases from the US. This claim formed part of the context in which Washington withdrew additional tariffs earlier imposed on India over its purchase of Russian energy.
Russia says India free to choose suppliers
Russia, meanwhile, said India is free to buy oil from any source. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that India has always sourced energy from multiple suppliers and that Russia is not its only provider of oil and petroleum products.
Link to India–US trade framework
The developments are tied to the broader India–US interim trade framework. Under the deal, India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on US industrial goods and a wide range of food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits.
In return, the US will impose a reciprocal tariff of 18 per cent on Indian goods, covering sectors such as textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastics and rubber, organic chemicals, home decor, handicrafts and certain machinery.
Tariff rollback and Trump’s claim
Trump on Friday signed an executive order removing the 25 per cent tariff penalty imposed on India in August for purchasing Russian energy. The move followed the announcement of the trade deal, under which tariffs on Indian exports to the US were reduced from 50 per cent to 18 per cent, effective February 7.
In the executive order, Trump reiterated his claim that India would stop buying Russian oil and increase energy purchases from the US.
End of Article
