New Delhi: India has issued its first official response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that New Delhi has agreed to stop buying oil from Russia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized that India’s top priority remains the energy security of its 1.4 billion people. The government also clarified that it could continue to purchase oil from Venezuela if commercially viable.
MEA spokesperson Randeep Jaiswal said at a press conference, “Regarding India’s energy security and sources, the government has repeatedly stated publicly that ensuring the energy needs of 1.4 billion citizens is our highest priority. Diversifying our energy sources, according to market conditions and changing international dynamics, remains central to our strategy. All decisions will be made with this in mind.”
Earlier, Trump claimed that India had agreed to halt Russian oil purchases and instead invest in Venezuelan crude as part of discussions following the India-US trade deal. Trump tweeted that the agreement would help end the Russia-Ukraine war, citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Responding to the claim, India clarified that no such decision regarding halting Russian oil purchases has been made. Jaiswal stated, “India has a longstanding partnership with Venezuela and is open to purchasing oil from there or elsewhere, depending on commercial feasibility.”
Meanwhile, Russia confirmed that it has received no communication from India regarding stopping oil imports. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “We respect U.S.-India bilateral relations but also value the strategic partnership between Russia and India. We look forward to further strengthening our bilateral ties with New Delhi.”
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