India defies Washington, continues to rely on Russian oil to preserve its economic interests
NEW DELHI, Aug. 04 (YPA) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to support domestic products, reflecting his government’s defiance of US President Donald Trump’s threats to impose additional tariffs.
Modi, according to Bloomberg reports based on informed sources, emphasized that India will continue to defend its economic interests amid global changes.
Over the weekend, Modi cited the uncertainty facing the global economy and urged citizens to buy only domestically produced goods, seemingly an indirect message to US pressure to ease tariffs on American products.
Meanwhile, sources said the Indian government has not issued formal directives to Indian refineries to halt purchases of Russian oil, and no decision has yet been made on suspending purchases.
Indian refineries, both state-owned and private, continue to benefit from significant discounts on Russian crude, making India the largest importer of Russian seaborne oil. These developments come amid Trump’s imposition of 25% tariffs on Indian exports and his threat of additional sanctions due to India’s growing ties with Russia.
India has become a key target in Trump’s efforts to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. In controversial remarks last week, Trump attacked India’s membership in the BRICS group and its close ties with Moscow, saying that the economies of those countries “could collapse together.” US officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, have also accused India of imposing high tariffs on US products, circumventing the US immigration system, and importing large quantities of Russian oil, nearly as much as China.
According to The New York Times, India intends to continue purchasing Russian oil despite Trump’s threats of sanctions. The report cited unnamed senior Indian officials. The Indian Oil Ministry did not respond to Bloomberg’s inquiries on the matter.
These moves have drawn criticism from the European Union and the United States, where India’s oil purchases are seen as indirect support for Russia.
YPA