The United States has praised India for allegedly stopping crude oil purchases from Russia, though Indian officials state they have no knowledge of such a halt.
US President Donald Trump has publicly commented that India's reported decision to stop importing crude oil from Russia is a "good step." His remarks came after Washington announced a penalty on India for its military and oil purchases from Russia, along with a new 25% import duty on Indian goods.
India's Stance
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) sources said they were unaware of any such halt in oil imports. They emphasized that India's energy buying choices are based on its national interests and current market conditions.
The MEA sources' statements came after a report by Reuters suggested that Indian state-owned oil companies, including Indian Oil Corp and Bharat Petroleum Corp, had stopped looking for Russian crude oil last week. This was reportedly due to smaller discounts and warnings from the US. These companies are now believed to be buying oil from other markets, mostly from the Middle East and West Africa.
US Pressure on India
The article also highlights that Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have previously criticized India for continuing to buy discounted Russian oil, despite Western sanctions against Russia related to the Ukraine war.
The report also mentions a previous threat from Trump on July 14, where he warned that he would impose a 100% tariff on countries that buy Russian oil unless a major peace agreement is reached with Ukraine.
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