On Thursday, the Indian government cautiously responded to President Trump’s declaration that India would halt its Russian oil purchases. Rather than directly refute his comments, New Delhi opted for a subtle approach, clearly aiming to diffuse a tense trade dispute with Washington and avoid any further public clashes.
A statement from India’s foreign ministry strategically omitted any confirmation of such a pledge by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Instead, it highlighted India’s longstanding practice of sourcing its oil from various global suppliers.
This diplomatic, non-aggressive stance underscores Prime Minister Modi’s concerted effort to delicately navigate tensions with the Trump administration. His goal is to see the substantial U.S. tariffs lifted and to restore the stability of a bilateral relationship that has been meticulously built over the past twenty years.
The previous day, President Trump publicly claimed that the Indian leader had personally “assured me today that he will not be buying Russian oil” – a move the Trump administration views as essential to curb funding for Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. This development follows August’s events, when the US levied a punishing 25 percent tariff on Indian imports, adding to an existing 25 percent tariff, in what was perceived as a punitive measure.
During a press conference on Thursday, Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry, stated he was unaware of any recent phone conversation between the two prominent leaders.
However, unlike a previous incident a few months prior, where India issued a strong denial to a similar claim by Mr. Trump regarding Russian oil, Mr. Jaiswal adopted a noticeably more cautious tone. His earlier statement had subtly denied the president’s assertion without directly confronting him.
The foreign ministry’s statement emphasized that India’s oil import decisions are driven by a “consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario.” It further highlighted the country’s ongoing efforts to “diversify as appropriate,” which includes increasing oil purchases from the United States.
Despite their once-proclaimed close bond, the relationship between the two nations’ leaders has become notably strained during the second Trump administration. Tensions escalated after India publicly refuted Mr. Trump’s claim that he had successfully brokered a cease-fire between India and Pakistan following a military confrontation earlier this spring.
Publicly acknowledging that Prime Minister Modi halted a military operation due to American pressure would significantly jeopardize his carefully cultivated ‘strongman’ image domestically. President Trump, however, keen to bolster his reputation as a peacemaker deserving of a Nobel Prize, viewed India’s denial as an act of ingratitude. Consequently, he intensified his focus on India’s ongoing purchases of Russian oil. New Delhi had previously stated these purchases were, in fact, encouraged by US officials before Trump’s presidency to help stabilize global market prices. This contentious issue culminated in the imposition of tariffs, effectively stalling diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Indian officials contend that these tariffs are unjust, especially given that other significant importers of Russian oil, such as China, have not been subjected to comparable sanctions.
Harsh V. Pant, a visiting professor of international relations at King’s College London, commented, “If Trump desires a specific course of action from India, publicizing those demands is the most counterproductive approach. It severely complicates matters for any Indian policymaker to appear to be bowing to American pressure.”
Over recent weeks, both nations have shifted towards discreet diplomacy to mend their strained relationship. Trade negotiations have restarted, and notably, Prime Minister Modi was among the first world leaders to laud Mr. Trump’s successful mediation of the hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. Modi’s call to Trump on October 9th served both to congratulate him and to assess the “good progress achieved in trade negotiations.”
Sergio Gor, a close associate of Mr. Trump and recently confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to India, undertook an unusual four-day visit to the country this month before officially assuming his post. During this trip, he met with Prime Minister Modi and other senior officials, a departure from standard diplomatic protocol before presenting credentials.
India’s foreign minister, S. Jaishankar, recently addressed a gathering in New Delhi, stating that both countries are actively working to resolve lingering trade disputes to prevent them from “percolating into every dimension of the relationship.”
Mr. Jaishankar acknowledged, “There are problems, there are issues, nobody is in denial of it. Those issues need to be negotiated and discussed and resolved, which is exactly what we are trying to do.”
Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of Prime Minister Modi’s economic advisory council, asserted that India has chosen to firmly uphold its national interests and refrain from reacting to “snide remarks and sometimes what could be deemed as racist remarks against India” made by President Trump’s advisors.
He concluded at a recent economic forum, “We have in general been quite restrained.”
Indrani Bagchi, a foreign-policy analyst and chief executive of the Ananta Aspen Center, a prominent New Delhi think-tank, suggested that Mr. Trump’s public statements might be a strategic attempt to gain leverage.
She added, “If these are merely pressure tactics, I don’t believe India will concede.”
Additional reporting was provided by Hari Kumar.