India's Stance on Russian Oil Unclear Amid US Tariff Rollback
India has not confirmed or denied stopping Russian crude oil purchases, despite a US decision to roll back a 25% tariff. US President Trump claimed India committed to halt Russian oil imports and buy US energy in exchange for tariff cuts, threatening reimposition if India deviates. Indian officials reiterated their priority for energy security and diversification, avoiding direct confirmation of Trump's assertions, amidst a recent decline in Russian oil procurement.
The United States has rolled back a punitive 25% tariff on Indian goods, which was initially imposed over New Delhi's purchases of petroleum products from Russia. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order, stating that India had committed to cease direct or indirect imports of Russian Federation oil, represented that it would purchase United States energy products, and pledged to expand defense cooperation. Trump warned that if India resumed Russian oil imports, his administration would recommend reimposing the 25% additional duty.However, Indian officials provided no clear response to Trump's claims, instead referring to remarks made by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Jaiswal emphasized that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians remains the government's supreme priority. He further stated that India's strategy involves diversifying its energy sourcing based on objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics. The purchase of Russian oil had previously been a point of contention between New Delhi and Washington, with US officials alleging it fueled Russia's war effort in Ukraine. India consistently rejected these charges, maintaining that its energy procurement decisions are driven by national interests and market dynamics. India began buying discounted Russian oil after Western countries sanctioned Moscow following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, although its procurement has recently seen a sharp decline.
