Former US President Donald Trump on Saturday welcomed reports suggesting that India may have halted its purchase of Russian oil, calling it a “good step” if confirmed. His remarks follow Washington’s recent move to impose penalties on New Delhi over its continued energy and defence dealings with Moscow.
“I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That’s what I heard, I don’t know if that’s right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens,” Trump told reporters, hinting at a potential shift in India’s energy sourcing policy.
However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded with caution, asserting that India’s energy procurement is dictated by market conditions and strategic interests, and that the government has no specific knowledge of Indian oil companies suspending Russian imports.
“You are aware of our broad approach to energy sourcing requirements — we look at what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation. We are not aware of any specifics,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly press briefing.
This exchange comes amid reports that state-owned Indian refiners — Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd — have refrained from placing fresh orders for Russian crude in the past week. According to Reuters, narrowing discounts on Russian oil and renewed US warnings against purchases may have contributed to this development.
While state refiners have turned to spot markets for alternative supplies — including Abu Dhabi’s Murban crude and grades from West Africa — private giants like Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy continue to account for a significant share of Russian oil imports. Notably, state refiners collectively manage over 60% of India’s refining capacity, pegged at 5.2 million barrels per day.
The US has been increasingly vocal about India’s energy ties with Russia, especially in the context of Western sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict. Earlier this week, Washington imposed a 25% additional import duty on select Indian goods and announced penalties related to defence and energy transactions with Moscow.
While the Biden administration has not issued an official statement on India’s latest buying behaviour, Trump’s comments signal bipartisan scrutiny of India’s energy diplomacy — a matter that remains sensitive amid geopolitical tensions and economic pragmatism.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether India will recalibrate its crude sourcing strategies or continue balancing its foreign policy between competing global powers.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)