India denies Trump’s claim that Modi agreed to halt Russian oil buys
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New Delhi dismisses Trump’s statement about ending Russian oil imports, reaffirming that India’s energy policy will remain independent despite US pressure.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, talk to each other as they visit shipyard Zvezda, outside the far-eastern Russian port of Vladivostok, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019. (AP)
India has disputed US President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil, insisting that no such conversation between the two leaders took place, The Guardian reported.
Trump told reporters on Wednesday that Modi had assured him earlier that day that India would end its imports of Russian crude.
“I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he [Modi] has assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. You know, you can’t do it immediately. It’s a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon,” Trump said, adding that he expected to persuade China to do the same.
However, Indian officials contradicted that account. In a press briefing on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said there had been “no telephonic conversation between PM Modi and US President Trump yesterday.”
Longstanding energy ties with Moscow
India has become one of the largest buyers of Russian oil since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, despite Western sanctions aimed at curbing the Kremlin’s revenue streams. The move has strained relations with Washington, which views India’s energy partnership with Russia as undermining efforts to isolate President Vladimir Putin.
In August, Trump imposed some of his highest tariffs yet on Indian imports, accusing New Delhi of helping to “finance Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.” The measures added an extra 25% tariff on top of an existing 25% base rate.
Despite the US pressure campaign, Indian officials have consistently defended their country’s energy strategy, arguing that it must be guided by domestic needs and market realities.
India: 'Energy policy not up for negotiation'
New Delhi has repeatedly said it will not allow foreign governments to dictate its energy decisions or disrupt its long-standing ties with Moscow, a relationship that dates back to the Cold War era. Russia remains India’s largest arms supplier and a major strategic partner.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that talks with Washington over tariffs and trade were "ongoing", emphasizing that India’s priority was to “safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario.”
Officials also underscored that India’s energy policy is driven by the need to diversify and secure energy sources, particularly amid global market instability.
Oil purchases strain US–India relations
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, India has reaped significant economic benefits from buying discounted Russian crude, becoming the second-largest purchaser of Russian oil after China.
The strategy, however, has reportedly contributed to a sharp deterioration in US–India relations. In Washington, some officials have even accused New Delhi of indirectly funding Russia’s war effort, with White House aides reportedly referring to the conflict as “Modi’s war".
Despite the tensions, Trump spoke warmly of the Indian leader on Wednesday, saying, “Modi is a great man. He loves Trump.”
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