New Delhi [India], February 5 (ANI): Responding to US President Donald Trump’s claim that India agreed to stop buying Russian oil, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday reiterated that ensuring energy security for 1.4 billion people is the government’s top priority amid changing global energy dynamics.
At a press conference in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s energy choices are guided by national interest. “In so far as India’s energy security or sourcing is concerned, the government has publicly on several occasions, including me here, stated that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion is the supreme priority of the government,” he said.
Jaiswal added that the government’s approach centers on diversifying energy sources in line with market conditions and international developments. “Diversifying our energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy to ensure this. All of India’s decisions are taken and will be taken with this in mind,” he said.
Trump’s remarks followed announcement of an India-US trade deal, in which he claimed New Delhi would cease purchasing Russian oil and instead increase imports from the United States and potentially Venezuela. “We spoke about many this including Trade, and ending the War with Russia and Ukraine agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more fr the United States and, potentially, Venezuela,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The trade deal was confirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but no statement on ending Russian oil purchases was made.
On Venezuela, Jaiswal said India remains open to buying oil based on commercial viability. “India’s stand is clear. We have long-standing partnership with Venezuela. And we remain open to buying oil from Venezuela or other places depending on its commercial viability,” he said.
The India-US bilateral trade agreement announced on Monday reduces tariffs on Indian goods from 50 per cent to 18 per cent. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the final agreement is in its last stages, a view echoed by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who said the deal is “still being papered.” A joint statement detailing the agreement is expected later.
Russia also commented on the developments. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova said there is no reason to think India will reconsider its energy cooperation with Russia, noting that resource trade is mutually beneficial and helps maintain stability in the international energy market. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that Russia is not India’s only oil supplier and that India has long purchased petroleum products from other countries, so there is “nothing new here.”
Goyal reiterated the government’s stance, emphasizing energy security for 1.4 billion Indians and the importance of diversification based on market and international dynamics.
These statements come as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is in the United States for the Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Jaishankar said the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation and discussed issues including the Indo-Pacific, West Asia, and Ukraine. He described the talks as a detailed review of the bilateral relationship and a broad discussion of global developments. At the ministerial, Jaishankar expressed India’s support for the FORGE (Forum on Resource, Geostrategic Engagement) initiative. (ANI)
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