India on Thursday reacted to US President Donald Trump’s comments regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance to stop Russian oil purchases, saying the country’s energy supply is guided by its national interests and the need to protect Indian consumers.
Responding to media queries, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India is a significant importer of oil and gas. Protecting the interests of Indian consumers in a volatile energy landscape has been our constant priority. Our import policies are strictly guided by this objective. Ensuring stable energy prices and secure supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy. This includes widening our energy sources and diversifying them in line with market conditions.”
He further said, “As far as the US is concerned, we have been trying to expand our energy purchases for many years. There has been steady progress over the last decade. The current administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions on this are ongoing.”
His comment came after President Trump’s statement in which he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him that India will stop buying oil from Russia. He called it a “major step” in efforts to increase global pressure on Moscow.
Trump made the comments during a joint news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel in the Oval Office, where both highlighted the administration’s efforts to curb violent crime.
Responding to ANI’s question on whether he considered India a reliable partner, Trump said, “Yes, absolutely. He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) is my friend. We have a very good relationship. I was not happy with the fact that India was buying oil. And he assured me today that they will not buy oil from Russia. This is a big milestone. Now we have to get China to do the same.”
Confirming his close ties with the Indian leader, he said, “He is my friend. We have very good relations. As you know, he said this just two days ago.”
However, Trump criticized India’s past oil imports from Russia, saying, “We were not happy with buying oil from Russia, because it allowed Russia to continue this senseless war in which they have lost 150,000 people. Russia has lost 150,000 people, mostly soldiers.”
India has long described Moscow’s oil imports as essential for economic stability, while Washington has been urging New Delhi to diversify its energy sources.
Describing the current conflict as unnecessary, Trump said, “This is a war that should never have started, but it’s a war that Russia should have won in the first week, and they’re entering the fourth year. And I’d like to see it stop. That’s why I was not happy that India was buying oil.”
He further added, “And they assured me today that they will not buy oil from Russia. This is a big milestone. Now I have to get China to do the same.”
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and the Congress are using Trump’s comments to attack the government and allege that PM Modi is “afraid” of Donald Trump.
