India Prioritises Consumers, Not Trump, Amid Russian Oil Controversy

India has firmly restated its commitment to consumer interests and diversified energy sourcing in response to US President Donald Trump's assertion that Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to end Russian oil purchases. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that New Delhi's import policies remain guided solely by stabilizing prices and securing supplies in a volatile global market, without confirming or denying the alleged assurance. The statement, released Thursday, highlights ongoing discussions to expand US-India energy ties, noting steady progress over the past decade and mutual interest in deeper cooperation. This diplomatic pushback comes amid heightened Western scrutiny of India's discounted Russian crude imports, which have surged since Moscow's 2022 Ukraine invasion, providing economic relief but drawing sanctions threats from Washington.

Trump's comments, made during a White House event on October 15 alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, framed the purported commitment as a "big step" toward isolating Russia's war funding, with plans to pressure China next. "I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia," Trump stated, adding a lighthearted note: "Modi is a great man, and he loves Trump... I don't want to destroy his political career." The claim follows August's 25% US tariffs on Indian imports—explicitly tied to Russian energy deals—and aligns with Trump's broader "Peace President" narrative, including recent Gaza and India-Pakistan de-escalation boasts. India, importing 1.62 million barrels per day from Russia in September (over 30% of total crude), has defended the volumes as pragmatic, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar decrying Western double standards: "Europe's problems are the world's problems, but the world's problems are not Europe's problems." Shipments have dipped 10% year-to-date due to market dynamics, not external coercion, per Kpler data.

Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi seized on the episode to lambast Modi as "frightened of Trump," listing grievances in a viral X post: allowing US announcements on Indian policy, persistent congratulations despite snubs, canceling Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's US visit, skipping the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, and failing to rebut Trump's Operation Sindoor claims. Senior Congress figure Jairam Ramesh echoed this, alleging Modi had "outsourced key decisions to America" and questioning silence on prior US assertions about India-Pakistan ceasefires. Social media reactions amplified the divide, with users like @Kanthan2030 decrying potential sovereignty erosion and @RahulGandhi's post garnering over 9,800 likes. BJP spokespersons dismissed the barbs as partisan, insisting Modi's diplomacy balances strategic autonomy with alliances.

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The episode underscores frictions in the US-India partnership, valued at $190 billion in bilateral trade, even as joint initiatives in defense and tech flourish under the QUAD framework. A Modi-Trump summit looms at the upcoming ASEAN meeting in Malaysia, where energy agendas could clarify timelines—if any—beyond Trump's unverified account. For India, reliant on imports for 85% of its oil needs, abrupt shifts risk inflation spikes, with analysts projecting a 5-7% price hike sans Russian discounts. As global benchmarks hover at $75/barrel, New Delhi's measured tone signals continuity in multipolar maneuvering, prioritizing rupee-ruble settlements and BRICS diversification over unilateral concessions.

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