On Thursday, the Indian government cautiously responded to former President Trump’s declaration that India would stop buying Russian oil. While not directly refuting his statement, New Delhi’s stance signals a strategic effort to sidestep public conflict and bring an end to a lingering trade dispute with Washington.
India’s foreign ministry released a statement that notably omitted any confirmation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi making such a pledge. Instead, the ministry highlighted India’s consistent policy of diversifying its crude oil sources.
This understated reply underscores Modi’s careful approach to the Trump administration, aiming to resolve significant U.S. tariffs. His objective is to mend and stabilize a bilateral relationship that has been meticulously built over two decades.
Just the day before, Mr. Trump had announced that the Indian leader “assured me today that he will not be buying Russian oil,” a move the U.S. administration claims supports Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This follows the Trump administration’s August decision to impose a 25 percent tariff on Indian imports, adding to an existing 25 percent tariff as a punitive measure.
During a Thursday news conference, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Indian foreign ministry, stated he had no information regarding any recent phone conversation between the two national leaders.
However, unlike previous occasions where the Indian government issued a strong rebuttal to similar claims from Mr. Trump about Russian oil purchases, Jaiswal’s response this time was notably more guarded. His earlier statement offered a soft denial, carefully avoiding a direct challenge to the president.
The ministry’s statement emphasized that India’s oil import decisions are driven by a continuous commitment to protect its consumers amidst fluctuating global energy markets. It further highlighted the nation’s efforts to “diversify as appropriate,” notably increasing its oil purchases from the United States.
The personal relationship between the two leaders, once frequently praised as strong, has become complicated during the second Trump administration. Tensions escalated after India refuted Mr. Trump’s assertion that he had mediated a cease-fire between India and Pakistan following a military confrontation earlier this year.
For Prime Minister Modi, publicly admitting to halting military actions due to American pressure would significantly undermine his powerful image domestically. Conversely, Mr. Trump, keen on portraying himself as a Nobel Prize-worthy peacemaker, viewed India’s denial as a sign of ingratitude. This led him to scrutinize India’s Russian oil purchases, which New Delhi claims were initially encouraged by American officials to stabilize market prices. The subsequent imposition of tariffs has largely frozen diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Indian authorities argue 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 behavior from India, publicizing those expectations is the least effective approach. It creates a challenging situation for Indian policymakers, who cannot be perceived as simply caving to American demands.”
Recently, both sides have engaged in discreet diplomatic efforts to mend their relationship. Trade negotiations have resumed, and Prime Minister Modi was notably among the first world leaders to commend Mr. Trump for his role in facilitating the hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas. On October 9, Modi personally called Trump to offer congratulations and discuss the “good progress achieved in trade negotiations.”
Sergio Gor, a close associate of Mr. Trump and the newly confirmed U.S. ambassador to India, undertook an unconventional four-day visit to the country this month before officially commencing his duties. During his trip, he met with Prime Minister Modi and other high-ranking officials.
India’s Foreign Minister, S. Jaishankar, recently stated in New Delhi that both nations are actively working to resolve their trade disagreements to prevent them from “percolating into every dimension of the relationship.”
“There are problems, there are issues; nobody is denying it,” Jaishankar affirmed. “These matters require negotiation, discussion, and resolution, which is precisely what we are endeavoring to achieve.”
Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of Prime Minister Modi’s economic advisory council, indicated that India has opted to firmly uphold its national interests and not react to “snide remarks and sometimes what could be deemed as racist remarks against India” made by Mr. Trump’s advisors.
“Overall, we have maintained a very restrained posture,” he informed an economic forum earlier this month.
According to Indrani Bagchi, a foreign-policy analyst and CEO of the Ananta Aspen Center in New Delhi, Mr. Trump’s comments might be a tactic to gain leverage.
“If these are merely pressure tactics, I doubt India will yield,” she stated. Reporting by Hari Kumar also contributed to this piece.