India has made a very clear statement about it plans to keep buying oil from Russia. This news comes even after President Donald Trump recently announced new 25% tax on Indian goods sent to the US. He also hinted at more punishments if India continues to buy Russian oil and weapons.
The sources indicated that no immediate shift in policy is expected. “These are long-term oil contracts. It is not so simple to just stop buying overnight," one of the sources explained. This approach is crucial for India as it is one of the world's major energy importers which relies heavily on crude oil imports to fuel its rapidly growing economy as stated by another source.
Indian officials are saying that buying oil from Russia has actually helped keep global oil prices from going way up. They also highlighted that, unlike oil from Iran and Venezuela, Russian oil is not under direct sanctions. India is buying it below the price cap set by the European Union. This suggests India views its actions as compliant with international regulations while serving its national interest.
Despite renewed pressure from US President Donald Trump, including the imposition of a 25% tariff on Indian exports and threats of additional penalties, India is set to continue its imports of Russian oil. This approach is rooted in both long-term commitments and strategic economic considerations, according to Indian government sources.
Donald Trump, in a recent Truth Social post, declared the new tariffs and warned of further punitive measures against India for its ongoing acquisition of Russian oil and military equipment. This announcement followed a Reuters report that had suggested a potential halt in Indian purchases of discounted Russian oil, a development Trump had publicly welcomed as a "good step."
Adding to this, news agency ANI reported on Saturday that Indian oil refiners intend to maintain their Russian imports. Their procurement decisions, the report stated, are based on practical considerations such as price, crude grade, logistics and overall economic viability. This highlights a commercial rather than a purely political driver behind India's energy sourcing. Reports from Russian media also indicate that the Indian government has not issued any directives to its domestic refineries to cease or seek alternatives to Russian oil imports.
In response to the speculation and Trump's comments, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, reiterated India's consistent policy on energy security. He stated that India is guided by "what is on offer in the markets, and by the prevailing global circumstances" when securing its energy needs, underscoring a pragmatic, market-driven approach to its energy policy. This collective stance from various Indian government bodies and sources clearly indicates that, for now, India intends to prioritize its energy security and economic considerations, maintaining its flow of Russian oil despite mounting US pressure.
