New Delhi: New Delhi has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him India would halt oil imports from Russia, reaffirming that the country’s energy decisions are guided solely by national interests and the welfare of Indian consumers.
In an official statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India remains a major importer of oil and gas, and its consistent priority is to ensure stable prices and secure supplies in an unpredictable global market. “Our import policies are guided entirely by the objective of safeguarding the interests of the Indian consumer,” he stated.
Jaiswal emphasised that India’s energy strategy focuses on broadening its sourcing base and diversifying procurement to adapt to global market conditions. He added that New Delhi has been steadily expanding energy cooperation with the United States over the past decade, with the current administration showing continued interest in deepening this partnership.
Trump had claimed during a White House interaction that Prime Minister Modi had personally assured him that India would soon stop buying Russian oil, calling it a “big step.” However, no such assurance has been confirmed by the Indian government.
Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India has faced criticism from Western nations, particularly the US, for continuing to purchase discounted Russian crude. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has consistently defended India’s position, saying the government’s responsibility is to secure the best energy deals for its citizens. He has also highlighted Western hypocrisy, remarking that the world cannot operate on the assumption that “Europe’s problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problems.”
Trump’s latest remarks have sparked political controversy in India, with the Opposition accusing the Prime Minister of compromising foreign policy independence. Rahul Gandhi alleged that Modi had allowed Trump to dictate India’s stance on Russian oil and criticised him for not publicly rejecting the US President’s claim.
