US President Donald Trump’s threats of steep tariffs sparked a sharp counterattack from India, with Delhi reminding Washington that when it began importing from Russia after the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, the US “actively encouraged such imports”.
India’s tough stance came on a day National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is scheduled to visit Moscow to reinforce bilateral ties amid growing pressure from Washington. Doval’s visit will be followed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow later this month.
Doval’s visit is expected to offer clarity on how Delhi plans to navigate a complex energy and security landscape shaped by global supply shifts and strategic realignments.
According to the Times of India, Doval may seek deeper discounts from Moscow in response to Trump’s recent remarks.
“We will act in the best interest of Indian consumers and choose the most cost-effective option available. If Russian crude continues to be more affordable than other sources, there’s no reason to penalise our citizens,” a senior government official told TOI.
The Modi administration has so far shown no intention of scaling back crude oil imports from Russia despite Trump’s mounting pressure.
India increased its oil purchase from Russia after Moscow began selling its oil at discounted rates after the West imposed sanctions on it for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This policy has helped keep domestic fuel prices in check while also benefiting European nations that continue to depend on Indian exports of diesel and aviation fuel.
From just 0.2 per cent, Russian oil now accounts nearly 40 per cent of India’s crude import, making Russia’s second-largest oil buyer after China.
Jaishankar’s Likely To Visit in Mid-August
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also expected to visit Russia later this month. He is likely to visit Moscow around mid-August, according to The Economic Times.
These high-level engagements come after Donald Trump, in his sharp criticism last week, labelled India and Russia as “dead economies” and announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, along with penalties for countries maintaining strategic trade ties with Moscow.