In response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claim, India has stated that its energy import policy is driven entirely by the goal of protecting the interests of Indian consumers. Trump had claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him that India would stop purchasing oil from Russia, according to Indian media outlet NDTV.
In a statement on Thursday, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said,“India is a major importer of oil and gas. In the changing global energy scenario, our top priority has always been to safeguard the interests of Indian consumers. The primary objective of our import policy is to serve that goal.”
He further added, “Ensuring stable energy prices and secure supplies are the two main pillars of our energy policy. Depending on market conditions, we strive to maintain diversity in our energy sources.”
Regarding ties with the United States, the statement said,“We have long been working to expand energy cooperation with the U.S. Over the past decade, this partnership has advanced significantly. The current administration has also shown deep interest in this area, and discussions are ongoing.”
Recently, Trump said, “Modi assured me that India will stop buying oil from Russia. Although it won’t be immediate, the process will end soon.”
Since the beginning of the Russia–Ukraine war, Western nations—particularly the United States—have repeatedly objected to India’s purchase of Russian oil. However, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has made it clear that India seeks the best deals for its citizens. He also criticized Western hypocrisy, saying, “It’s time to move away from the mindset that Europe’s problems are the world’s problems.”
India’s oil purchases from Russia had also been a source of trade tariff tensions during Trump’s previous administration.
