NEW DELHI (Oct 16) – India on Thursday clarified that it is “broad-basing and diversifying” its energy imports in line with market conditions, after US President Donald Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him New Delhi would halt Russian crude oil purchases.
Responding to the remark, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s energy decisions are driven solely by national interest and aimed at protecting Indian consumers amid a volatile global oil market.
“It has been New Delhi’s consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario,” Jaiswal said. “Our import policies are guided entirely by national interest.”
He added that India continues to explore new energy partnerships, including expanding cooperation with the United States, while maintaining a diversified import basket to ensure energy security and affordability.
Trump’s comment, made during a campaign stop in Texas on Wednesday, suggested that Modi had promised to stop buying oil from Russia — a claim that has not been confirmed by Indian officials.
India, the world’s third-largest crude importer, has repeatedly said its oil purchases are guided by price and availability, not political pressure.