US Tariffs Won’t Sway India on Russian Oil, says MEA

• India has responded to US criticism over its continued purchase of Russian oil, stating its decisions are based on market availability.
• The response from MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal follows new US tariffs and comments from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
• Rubio called India’s oil purchases a “point of irritation” and said they help fund Russia’s war effort.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 1st July: India’s Ministry of External Affairs today issued a measured response to growing US criticism over its continued purchase of Russian crude oil, asserting its right to prioritize its national energy needs based on market conditions. The statement from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal came as a new 25% “reciprocal tariff” on Indian goods took effect.

Jaiswal stated, “Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country.” This response came after US President Donald Trump and other officials ramped up pressure on India, arguing that its purchases of Russian oil amount to funding the war in Ukraine.

The US’s stance culminated in an executive order from President Trump, which not only imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods but also levied an “unspecified penalty” for its purchases of Russian oil and military equipment. In a social media post, Trump had earlier stated that India would be paying the tariff, plus a penalty, for buying so much from Russia.

In the past, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has repeatedly defended India’s position, stating that the country’s oil purchases are based on a market strategy, not a political one. Before the war in Ukraine, India rarely bought Russian oil, but deep discounts following Western sanctions made Russia a major supplier.