‘Safeguarding Consumers is Priority’: India Responds to Trump’s Russia Oil Claim

New Delhi: India on Thursday responded to US President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that India would stop purchasing Russian oil. In a statement, Official Spokesperson

Randhir Jaiswal emphasised that India’s energy policies are guided by the nation’s interests and global market realities. “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,” Jaiswal said. “Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy. This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions.”Regarding relations with the United States, Jaiswal added, “We have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement from the US, which has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current Administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing.”

What Trump Said?

US President Donald Trump, speaking during a White House event on Wednesday, had claimed that PM Modi assured him that India would no longer purchase oil from Russia. “He’s assured me there will be no oil purchased from Russia. You know, you can’t do it immediately. It’s a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon,” the US President said.Trump also reiterated his personal rapport with Modi, calling him “a friend” and praising the Indian leader’s longevity in office. “I have watched India for years. It’s an incredible country and every single year you would have a new leader. Some would be in there for a few months, and this was year after year, and my friend has been there now for a long time,” Trump said during a joint press conference with FBI Director Kash Patel at the Oval Office.Criticising India’s past energy imports from Russia, Trump described the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict as “unnecessary,” and expressed his displeasure over India’s previous purchases of Russian oil.The claims come months after Trump imposed punitive tariffs on Indian goods, citing continued purchases of Russian military equipment and energy amid the Ukraine war. Indian exports to the US currently face tariffs of up to 50%. Following these measures, India had made it clear that its energy decisions will continue to be guided by national interests and global market conditions, rather than external pressure.