Trump Aide Urges India to Drop Discounted Russian Oil, Pushes ‘Buy American’ Energy

In a candid exchange at the New York Foreign Press Centre, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright delivered a pointed message to India: rethink your bargain-basement buys of Russian crude oil, which he bluntly called "funding a murderer" amid the relentless bloodshed in Ukraine. Speaking to ANI, Wright didn't mince words, highlighting how discounted Russian exports – shunned by much of the world – are propping up Moscow's military machine, with India, China, and Turkey as prime destinations.

"India buys Russian oil because it's cheaper. Nobody wants to buy Russian oil; they have to sell it at a discount," Wright explained. "India has decided to make the trade-off to buy cheaper oil and look the other way, which is giving money to a guy who's murdering thousands of people every week."

Yet, amid the criticism, Wright struck an optimistic chord, insisting the US has no appetite for punishing New Delhi. "We don't want to punish India. We want to end the war, and we want to grow our relations with India," he affirmed. The remarks land against a tense backdrop: the Trump administration's recent 50% tariffs on Indian imports – among the world's steepest – with 25% explicitly linked to India's Russian oil dealings. President Trump himself has lambasted New Delhi for "fueling Russia's deadly attacks on Ukraine" through these purchases.

Also Read: Rare Golden-Haired Bat Uncovered in Mizoram: India’s New Wildlife Sensation

Pushing an alternative, Wright championed "Buy American" energy. "America has oil to sell, so does everybody else. You can buy oil from every nation on the earth, just not Russian oil. That's our position," he urged, envisioning deeper ties in natural gas, coal, nuclear power, clean cooking fuels, and LPG. "I am a huge fan of India. We love India. We look forward to more energy trade, more interactions back and forth."

Wright framed India as a vital ally caught in a geopolitical squeeze. "India is caught up in the middle of another issue," he noted, expressing confidence that both nations share the goal of halting the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He revealed a recent chat with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during Trump's January inauguration festivities, where they brainstormed paths to peace. "Russia's trying to find peace in Ukraine is a sticky thing," Wright reflected. "We are both within the cabinet in the United States and with our allies, trying to find the most creative ways to bring this war to an end."

At its core, Wright said, the Trump White House prioritizes "maximum pressure" on Russia to force an end to the invasion – a move that could smooth over US-India frictions. "President Trump wants nothing more than this war to end, and it would have the additional benefit of removing a source of friction," he stressed. "I am all in on energy and trade cooperation with India. There's a bright future there, but somehow we have to figure out how to work together to put the maximum pressure to bring the war to an end."

As global energy markets remain volatile, Wright's blend of rebuke and outreach underscores Washington's high-stakes balancing act: leveraging economic clout to isolate Russia while courting India as a cornerstone partner in a multipolar world.

Also Read: Brands Turn Durga Puja Into India’s Biggest Festival Marketing Machine