EAM Jaishankar Says US Specifically Advised India On Russian Oil Purchases In 2022
US role in India’s Russian oil imports highlighted.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday that the United States had in fact encouraged India to purchase Russian oil in 2022 to help stabilise global energy markets, pushing back against criticism of New Delhi’s continued energy trade with Moscow. Speaking at an event in Kultaranta, Jaishankar said India’s energy decisions are driven primarily by cost and availability rather than geopolitical alignment.
He noted that the global oil market had become destabilised after sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, forcing major shifts in supply chains and purchasing patterns. According to S. Jaishankar, European countries moved away from Russian energy supplies and began competing more aggressively for oil from the Middle East, which had traditionally been a key source for India. This, he said, significantly altered global supply dynamics and reduced India’s access to its usual suppliers.
Jaishankar added that under these conditions, Russian oil became more available in global markets. “At that point of time, much of the oil available in the market was from Russia because Europeans were buying up the Middle East oil,” he said, describing the shift as a consequence of global demand realignment rather than a strategic preference by India.
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He further claimed that Washington itself had, at one point in 2022, encouraged India to buy Russian crude to help prevent extreme volatility in global prices. “At that time, the US specifically asked India to buy Russian oil to stabilize the oil market,” he said, adding that India continued to base its purchases on commercial considerations.
The minister also criticised what he described as inconsistent messaging from Western governments on the issue, pointing to shifting positions on Russian energy trade over time. He said India should not be subjected to “sanctimonious” criticism for decisions shaped by market conditions, reiterating that Russia remains a steady supplier and that India’s approach is guided by economic necessity rather than geopolitical allegiance.
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