India has rejected Trump’s claim that PM Modi assured him India would stop buying oil from Russia. New Delhi reaffirmed that its energy policy is driven by consumer interest stable prices, secure supply, and diversified sourcing.
India on Thursday firmly responded to US President Donald Trump’s remarks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him of halting oil imports from Russia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that India’s energy sourcing decisions are determined by national interests and the need to protect consumers. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective.”
Focus on stable prices and energy security
Jaiswal highlighted that ensuring stable energy prices and secure supplies are the twin pillars of India’s energy policy. He explained that India’s strategy includes broadening its energy sourcing base and diversifying imports according to market conditions. “This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions,” he said. The MEA also stressed that India’s approach is pragmatic, balancing affordability, security and sustainability in a rapidly changing global energy market.
Expanding cooperation with the United States
Addressing questions about India-US energy cooperation, Jaiswal noted that New Delhi has been expanding energy procurement from the United States for over a decade. He added, “Where the U.S. is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current Administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing.”