India has cast immediate and significant doubt on President Donald Trump’s dramatic claim that he has secured a promise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt all purchases of Russian oil, signaling a geopolitical disconnect over one of the world’s most contentious energy deals.
Hours after President Trump told reporters at the White House that Mr. Modi had “assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” New Delhi responded with a calibrated but firm statement that avoided direct confirmation or denial, instead refocusing on its core principle of energy independence.
The official response from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that India’s oil policies are guided “entirely by the objective” of safeguarding Indian consumers’ interests in a volatile market. The statement stressed the “twin goals” of the nation’s energy policy: stable prices and secure supplies.
Crucially, when pressed on the specifics of the alleged conversation, the MEA spokesperson stated he was “not aware of any conversation yesterday” between the two leaders, appearing to directly contradict the timeline of the President’s public announcement.
The Price of Independence
The diplomatic kerfuffle highlights the intense pressure Washington has been exerting on New Delhi to sever its energy ties with Moscow, which the U.S. views as indirectly funding Russia’s war in Ukraine. India, however, has consistently defended its actions on the grounds of national economic security.
Since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, India has become the largest buyer of discounted Russian seaborne crude after China, taking advantage of steep price cuts. This discounted supply has been a key factor in shielding India’s consumers from global energy inflation.
President Trump has made his displeasure clear, previously imposing 50% tariffs on Indian exports—a penalty that New Delhi has deemed “unfair” and “unjustified.” His latest public declaration was seen as a major breakthrough in ongoing, fraught trade negotiations.
The Economic Reality vs. The Political Claim
While the political rhetoric heats up, the economic reality on the ground remains complex. Sources in the Indian refining sector indicated that an immediate or sudden halt to Russian crude purchases would be logistically and economically disastrous, potentially triggering a major inflationary spiral at home.
However, amidst the heightened pressure, there are signals that India is looking to broaden its sourcing options:
- Diversification: The MEA statement confirmed that New Delhi is looking to “broad-base” its energy sourcing, and Trade Secretary Rajesh Agrawal recently indicated a willingness to significantly increase purchases of U.S. oil and gas, suggesting a potential $15 billion “headroom” for procurement from America.
- Market Dynamics: Separately, market data suggests that the deep discounts on Russian crude have begun to narrow, causing a recent, minor dip in imports as refiners seek out alternative sources in the Middle East and elsewhere based purely on cost-competitiveness.
The diplomatic tightrope walk has not gone unnoticed by the opposition in India, with Congress leaders quick to use the President’s claim to accuse Prime Minister Modi of having “outsourced key decisions to America.”
For now, India’s public posture remains one of defiant independence: its energy policy is dictated by the needs of its 1.4 billion people, not by the demands of a strategic partner. The global energy market, it seems, is still ruled by price, not political pledges.