India Reaffirms Consumer-First Energy Policy Amid Trump’s Claim on Russian Oil
New Delhi: A day after former US President Donald Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him India would stop buying oil from Russia, the Indian government reiterated that the nation’s energy decisions are driven purely by consumer interest, not political pressure.
In an official statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized that India’s energy policy prioritizes stable prices, secure supplies, and diversified sourcing to protect domestic consumers in an uncertain global market.
“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,” the MEA said.
Trump’s remarks came during a media interaction in Washington, where he claimed that PM Modi had agreed to halt Russian oil imports — a statement that has not been confirmed by New Delhi. “He assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing,” Trump said, adding that India’s transition away from Russian oil “is already underway.”
However, India refrained from directly commenting on Trump’s claim, maintaining its long-standing stance that energy decisions are guided by national interest and market realities.
The government reaffirmed that India’s energy goals remain focused on stability and diversification.
“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,” the statement added.
India has steadily expanded energy cooperation with the United States over the past decade, particularly in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil. The MEA noted that discussions to deepen this partnership are ongoing.
Still, Russia continues to play a major role in India’s energy mix — accounting for nearly one-third of total crude imports — thanks to steep post-war discounts and reliable logistics.
Any significant reduction in Russian oil imports, analysts say, would represent a major geopolitical and economic shift for New Delhi, potentially affecting its energy security and trade balance.
Despite renewed pressure from Washington — including recent tariff hikes on Indian exports — India has consistently defended its right to source energy based on affordability and supply stability. Officials have repeatedly asserted that India will “buy oil from wherever it serves the country’s best interests.”
