INDIA DEFIES TRUMP'S THREATS, VOWS TO KEEP BUYING RUSSIAN OIL

India has reiterated its commitment to continue importing oil from Russia despite mounting pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently threatened to impose penalties unless the South Asian nation halts its purchases.

Speaking anonymously to reporters on Saturday, senior Indian officials made it clear there had been no shift in policy, with one noting that no directive had been issued to oil companies to reduce Russian imports. The statement came a day after Trump, in a briefing, appeared to claim India was scaling back Russian oil purchases — a claim Indian authorities have now firmly rejected.

The diplomatic friction underscores a deepening strain in Indo-U.S. relations, fuelled by what Indian analysts describe as Washington’s erratic and short-sighted foreign policy. India, home to over 1.4 billion people and heavily reliant on energy imports, sources nearly 90% of its oil from abroad — with over a third currently coming from Russia.

New Delhi ramped up its Russian oil purchases following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, taking advantage of discounted prices. Although this drew criticism early in the conflict, India’s Western allies later acknowledged that such purchases, under a G7-imposed price cap, helped stabilise global oil markets.

However, Trump has now revived pressure tactics, threatening tariffs and undefined penalties if India continues sourcing Russian crude. Indian officials see this as not just geopolitically counterproductive but also economically unrealistic.

“India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, brushing aside concerns over third-party influence. Experts agree that India is unlikely to reverse course soon, especially given China's continued appetite for Russian oil — which could leave India at an economic disadvantage if it bows to U.S. demands.

Former Indian diplomat Pankaj Saran warned that unilateral decisions could hurt India’s national interest: “Even if India cuts to zero, China won’t. Russia will just sell to them — cheaper.”

While data from July suggests a slight dip in Russian oil imports, analysts say this is seasonal, due to refinery maintenance and monsoon demand drops — not political pressure.

For New Delhi, the stakes are high. Previous U.S. sanctions forced it to halt oil deals with Iran and Venezuela, costing billions. With energy security seen as a key component of national security, India appears intent on avoiding a repeat.

“India needs affordable energy,” said one official. “We can’t allow foreign election rhetoric to dictate our survival.”