Washington D.C. – A recent claim by former U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred confusion and drawn a firm response from India regarding its energy procurement policies. On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Trump asserted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that India would cease purchasing oil from Russia.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump stated, "I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he [Modi] has assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia... You know, you can't do it immediately. It's a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon,". He further added that he intended to persuade China to follow suit.
However, these claims were quickly met with skepticism. Indian officials have cast doubt on Trump's assertions, stating that there was "no telephonic conversation between PM Modi and US President Trump yesterday". The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, when questioned about Trump's statement, said he had no knowledge of such a discussion.
In response to Trump's claim, the MEA issued a statement emphasizing India's commitment to safeguarding the interests of Indian consumers in a volatile energy market. The spokesperson reiterated that India's import policies are driven by this objective, focusing on ensuring stable energy prices and secure supplies through diversified energy sourcing. "Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy. This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions," Jaiswal said.
India has significantly increased its imports of Russian oil since the onset of the Ukraine war, with Russia becoming its primary oil supplier. This has been a point of contention with the U.S., particularly after Trump imposed additional tariffs on India, including a 25% import tariff on top of a base of 25%, to penalize the purchase of Russian oil, accusing Delhi of helping to finance Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
Despite the pressure, India has maintained its stance, asserting its right to determine its energy needs and relationship with Russia, which has been a longstanding strategic partner and its largest supplier of arms.
Amidst these developments, there are indications that India is open to expanding energy cooperation with the U.S. India has the potential to purchase an additional $14-$15 billion of US oil with its existing refinery infrastructure. Discussions between Indian and U.S. officials are reportedly ongoing to finalize an agreement, potentially by next month. This move could help reduce India's trade surplus with the U.S. and address some of President Trump's concerns. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal noted that energy purchases from the U.S. have decreased in recent years, indicating room for increased imports.
The situation remains complex, with India navigating its energy needs while balancing its relationships with both the U.S. and Russia.
