External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended India’s energy trade with Russia on Saturday in a bold and clear message to the US and European countries. He said that no one is being forced to buy refined oil from India.
Jaishankar made a direct jab at the US government while speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025. He stated, “It’s funny that people who work for a pro-business American government are accusing other people of doing business.” “Don’t buy oil or refined products from India if you have a difficulty doing so. You don’t have to buy it. “Europe buys, America buys, so if you don’t like it, don’t buy it.”
Jaishankar’s statements come at a time when US-India ties are very tense. This is because US President Donald Trump put hefty tariffs on Indian exports that would go into effect on August 27. The White House said the action was a “punishment” for New Delhi’s increased purchases of Russian crude oil.
The External Affairs Minister has always said that the reasons for the sanctions don’t make sense, noting that China buys the most Russian oil and the European Union buys the most Russian LNG. He has also told the US that it used to tell India to buy oil from Russia to help the world energy market stabilize.
Scott Bessent, the US Treasury Secretary, and Peter Navarro, the US trade adviser, have said that India is “profiteering” from the situation in Ukraine by buying cheap Russian oil and selling the refined products at high prices. Navarro even called India a “laundromat for the Kremlin,” saying that its oil purchases from Russia have gone up from less than 1% before the war to more than 40% now.
The Ministry of External Affairs has branded the US decision “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable” and has said that India will “take all actions” necessary to preserve its national interests. Jaishankar said that diplomatic lines are still available, even though the two countries are having a public fight. Trade talks are still going on between the two countries.