India Rejects Trump's Claim on Oil Purchase from Russia
India has rejected President Trump's claim regarding oil purchases from Russia. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that no such conversation took place between PM Modi and Trump. The decision to purchase oil is taken keeping public interest in mind. The ministry also mentioned that India is interested in increasing energy imports from the United States. The Russian Ambassador said that oil supply from Russia is beneficial for India.
President Donald Trump's repeated statements have been causing discomfort in India-US relations. Despite efforts from officials of both countries to ease tensions caused by US tariff policies, his remarks have created further unease. On September 16, Trump claimed that he had spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that the Indian PM assured him India would stop buying oil from Russia.
On October 16, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs rejected Trump's claim, stating that no such conversation had taken place a day earlier between the two leaders. It was clarified that decisions regarding oil purchases are made prioritizing the interests of the common people. India is also keen to increase oil imports from the US. Interestingly, Trump gave two different dates regarding the conversation. Once he said it happened two days earlier, then he said PM Modi assured him today.
India Rejects Trump's Claim
When asked by reporters at the Rashtrapati Bhavan whether he would meet PM Modi in Malaysia, Trump said, "Yes, definitely. He is a very good friend of mine. But I am upset with him because India is buying oil from Russia, which is prolonging the war. This has caused millions of deaths in Ukraine and Russia. Modi assured me today that India will stop buying oil from Russia. This is a big thing. China will do the same soon."
He also mentioned that he had spoken with Modi two days ago. However, official information from the Indian and US governments says the last conversation took place on October 9. Trump's claims lack consistency. For example, shortly after one statement, he said that Modi assured him India would stop buying Russian oil but it will be a gradual process.
Hours after Trump's statements, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs responded carefully. Spokesperson Randeep Jawaswal said, "To my knowledge, PM Modi has not had any conversation with President Trump. India is a major importer of oil and gas. Protecting Indian consumers' interests in an unstable energy environment has been a continuous priority. Our import policies are fully based on this objective. Indian energy policy aims for stable energy prices and ensuring secure supply. This includes buying energy from various sources and expanding energy options."
Regarding the US, India has been trying to increase energy imports for many years with steady progress in the past decade. The current administration is ready to enhance energy cooperation with India, and talks are ongoing.
Russian Ambassador Says Oil Supply from Russia Benefits India
Hours after Trump's claims, Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, said at an event in New Delhi that he was unaware of any conversation between Modi and Trump. However, the Indian government makes decisions based on the interests of its people. Oil is being purchased from Russia on this basis. He added that Russia’s oil supply is very beneficial for India. For the first time, Russia has become one of India's top four trading partners, with bilateral trade crossing $70 billion. This includes crude oil, fertilizers, and agricultural products.