Former US President Donald Trump has once again stirred controversy with his statement regarding Russian oil. Trump claimed that India would no longer purchase oil from Russia, a statement that immediately drew criticism from the Congress party towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while amidst the political uproar, responses from India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Russian Ambassador have provided clarity.
India's Stance on Energy Imports
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue, without directly refuting Trump's claims. He stated that India formulates its oil and gas import policies keeping the interests of its people in mind, while "India is a significant importer of oil and gas. Protecting the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy landscape has been our priority," Jaiswal said. He emphasized that India's import policies are based on ensuring stable energy prices and secure supply, and the country is diversifying its energy sources while adapting to market changes, while jaiswal also highlighted that India has been increasing its energy purchases from the US over the past decade, with ongoing discussions to strengthen this cooperation.
Russia's Perspective
Following Trump's statement, Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov also weighed in, while while he didn't directly address whether India would cease oil purchases, his statement implied continued trade. Alipov mentioned that India sources "one-third" of its crude oil from Russia, positioning Russia as a "cost-effective" alternative in the market. This indicates that the energy trade between India and Russia remains active.
Political Repercussions in India
Trump's assertion led to a sharp attack from Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on PM Modi. Ramesh questioned Modi's silence, stating, "President Trump has claimed 51 times that he's responsible for stopping India-Pakistan tensions by threatening trade, while yesterday, Trump said he told PM Modi that India should buy oil from Russia, and India assured him it wouldn't buy oil from Russia. The Prime Minister is silent on this! If such a decision has been taken, the Prime Minister should announce it. " Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders also raised questions, suggesting that PM Modi is afraid of Trump and has compromised the nation's honor.
