US President Donald Trump has once again asserted that India is significantly reducing its purchase of Russian oil. This claim was made as the President embarked on his first Asia tour, coinciding with the ASEAN summit.
Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One, Trump stated that New Delhi is cutting back on its Russian oil imports. This comes at a time when trade relations between India and the US have faced strain due to tariffs and India’s oil trade with Russia. Previously, Trump had imposed a 50% tariff on India, accusing it of ‘fuelling the war in Ukraine.’
When asked about potentially discussing Russian oil purchases with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, Trump indicated it was a possibility. He highlighted that China is ‘cutting back very substantially’ on Russian oil and India is doing so ‘completely,’ adding that the US has implemented sanctions.
Trump’s statements on India and China’s oil purchases precede his scheduled meeting with President Xi Jinping in South Korea, a meeting taking place in the context of increased US tariffs on China and efforts to de-escalate trade friction between the two nations.
India Rejects Trump’s Claim
This is not the first time Trump has made such a claim. Earlier in the month, he stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him of India cutting back on Russian oil purchases. However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs had contested this, emphasizing that India prioritizes its national interests and consumers in a volatile energy market.
Moreover, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the ministry was ‘not aware’ of any such telephonic conversation between the leaders.
Despite these clarifications, Trump reiterated his claim, suggesting that India had agreed to reduce its imports, stating that by the end of the year, their purchases would be ‘down to almost nothing.’