Washington: US President Donald Trump’s sensational assertion that India has decided to stop importing oil from Russia has set off a seething diplomatic and political storm, with stinging denials being issued by the ministry of external affairs in India and the Russian ambassador while triggering fresh accusations from the Congress aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a bizarre statement, Trump claimed he had personally told Modi not to buy Russian crude, and India promised they won’t. It has sparked anger, with Congress leaders attacking the PM for sacrificing national interests under American pressure.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal quickly clarified India’s position and said, “India values its close and friendly ties with Russia.”
New Delhi utilises the energy trade as a major policy pillar in view of news that global oil prices may surge further in the wake of political turmoil in Libya. “India has a dependence on the oil and gas imports,” Jaiswal said. “Our number one priority is to protect consumers. Our policies ensure stable and socially responsible prices and secure supplies through diversification of sources and in response to market trends,” he noted. He notably did not directly debunk Trump’s assertion, but he pointed to attempts to increase energy purchases from the US during the last decade and added that the new administration in Washington has taken an interest in improving bilateral relations with active talks.
“India imports about one-third of crude from Russia, and obviously there is an alternative as a cost-effective market,” Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov said following the meeting. He did not say anything about import curbs, suggesting the robust oil trade would remain on course.
The controversy has strengthened the Opposition’s stance. Opposition Congress MP Jairam Ramesh hammered Modi for his silence on the reported assurance, saying, “PM tweets praise for Trump, but America slaps tariffs. Why make announcements in Washington rather than New Delhi?” Rahul Gandhi, a prominent Opposition figure, chimed in to say that Modi was terrified of Trump, and the party accused him of another cloak-and-dagger “deal trading away India’s honour”.
While India-Russia energy relations continue to form a keystone of strategic partnerships, this episode illustrates the tightrope New Delhi walks — testing whether it can balance its Western-led alliances with Eastern dependencies.
With the fluctuating world oil prices, everyone’s attention is focused on whether Modi’s government will issue an official statement to put an end to the chaos.