NEW DELHI – The Indian government has provided a clear explanation for its energy sourcing strategy, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports, partly citing the country’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Responding to questions at a press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India’s energy procurement is “guided by what is on offer in markets and prevailing global situation.” He emphasized that the country’s decisions on these matters are based purely on national interests.
Trump’s recent tirade against India, which also included an unspecified “penalty” in addition to the 25% tariffs, targeted India and China for being “Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China.” The MEA, however, maintained that India and Russia share a “steady and time-tested” partnership and that India’s ties with any country should not be viewed “through the prism of a third nation.”
Jaiswal’s remarks also extended to defense procurement, where he clarified that sourcing is determined by “national security imperatives and strategic assessments.” This comes at a time when India has seen a significant increase in its oil imports from Russia. According to reports from Reuters and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, India bought 35% of its total oil supply from Russia in the first six months of 2025 and was the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in May 2025.
In the face of these new pressures, state-run refiners like Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation have reportedly stopped purchasing Russian crude oil from the spot market. However, private refiners like Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy, which have long-term procurement contracts with Russia, are expected to continue their purchases. The government has denied issuing any official directives to the refiners to halt their purchases, underscoring its stance that decisions are guided by market forces.
This latest development marks a fresh point of friction between the U.S. and India, as the Trump administration attempts to leverage trade policy to influence India’s foreign relations and economic choices.