NEW DELHI, August 3 — Indian oil companies will continue importing crude from Russia despite escalating pressure from Washington, including the imposition of new trade penalties by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to reports from Reuters citing senior government officials.
President Trump, in a recent post on Truth Social, announced a 25% tariff on Indian exports to the U.S. and warned of additional penalties over India's continued procurement of Russian oil and military equipment. The announcement has sparked concern over its potential impact on India-U.S. trade relations.
However, Indian government sources have made it clear that oil procurement decisions will remain unaffected by political rhetoric and will instead be driven by commercial and strategic considerations.
"Indian oil refiners continue to source oil from Russian suppliers," a government official told Reuters. "Their decisions are guided by price, grade of crude, inventories, logistics, and other economic factors."
No Directive to Halt Russian Imports
According to Russian media, the Government of India has not issued any directive instructing domestic refiners to cease Russian oil imports or to seek alternative suppliers. On the contrary, procurement patterns remain aligned with economic imperatives and energy security priorities.
A separate report published by Reuters on Friday had speculated that India might be considering halting purchases of discounted Russian oil, prompting a reaction from President Trump.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said: "I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That’s what I heard. I don’t know if that’s right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens."
India Emphasizes Market-Based Approach
Responding to the media speculation, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s stance of pursuing a pragmatic and market-driven energy policy.
"In securing our energy needs, we are guided by what is available in the international market and by prevailing global circumstances," Jaiswal said during a press briefing on Friday.
India, one of the world’s largest energy importers, has consistently maintained that its oil purchases are dictated by national interests, pricing dynamics, and supply reliability — a position that has informed its increasing reliance on discounted Russian crude amid global volatility.
As geopolitical tensions continue to influence global energy trade, India’s position underscores its commitment to a balanced and sovereign energy strategy, resilient to external political pressures.
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