Congress MP Shashi Tharoor sharply rebuked US President Donald Trump for claiming India would slash Russian oil imports to “almost nothing” by year-end, calling it an unacceptable overreach into India’s sovereign decisions. Speaking exclusively to ANI from Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, Tharoor asserted: “India will announce its own decisions. We don’t tell the world what Mr. Trump will do—he should not be telling the world what India will do.” His statement reflects growing frustration in New Delhi over Washington’s aggressive tactics, especially as China faces no similar pressure despite importing far greater volumes of discounted Russian crude.
Trump made the remarks during a White House briefing while hosting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, citing a recent conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He described the reduction as a gradual process that would eliminate nearly 40% of India’s oil supply, praising India’s cooperation amid fresh US sanctions on Russian giants Rosneft and Lukoil. Trump has tied compliance to the removal of 50% tariffs on Indian exports—25% base plus 25% penalty—imposed in August over continued Russian oil purchases.
India has firmly rejected any binding commitment, with the Ministry of External Affairs emphasizing its priority on securing affordable and stable energy for 1.4 billion citizens. Official data shows Russian imports holding strong at 1.8 million barrels per day in early October 2025—34% of total crude—up from 68,000 bpd before the 2022 Ukraine invasion. Refineries like Reliance’s Jamnagar complex rely heavily on these grades, and locked-in shipments for November and December make abrupt cuts impossible without raising domestic fuel prices.
The tariffs have already caused significant damage, with thousands of jobs lost in export hubs like Tiruppur textiles and Surat diamonds as US buyers shift to Vietnam and Thailand. Tharoor, in earlier statements and op-eds, has condemned the measures as “shortsighted,” warning they undermine the Indo-US strategic partnership. As trade talks continue and #IndiaStandsFirm trends online, New Delhi remains resolute: its energy policy will be dictated by national interest, not external pressure.