{"id":98503,"date":"2025-10-17T08:29:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T08:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/2025\/10\/17\/india-russia-oil-trade-trump-sparks-global-buzz\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T08:29:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T08:29:07","slug":"india-russia-oil-trade-trump-sparks-global-buzz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/2025\/10\/17\/india-russia-oil-trade-trump-sparks-global-buzz\/","title":{"rendered":"India Russia Oil Trade: Trump Sparks Global Buzz"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New Delhi [India], October 16: <\/b>Thursday morning, the world woke up to Donald Trump making headlines before most of us had our coffee. The US President claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally assured him India would stop buying oil from Russia. Cue instant global speculation. India, predictably, denied it.<\/span><\/p>\n

In less than 24 hours, the narrative spun from a Trump boast to a diplomatic shrug, with Russia quietly reminding everyone that its oil is good for India. Here\u2019s what actually happened.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trump Drops the Russian Oil Bomb<\/b><\/h3>\n

At a White House press conference on Wednesday, Trump claimed<\/a><\/strong> PM Modi had told him directly: India would halt Russian oil purchases. \u201cHe\u2019s a friend of mine,\u201d Trump said. \u201cI was not happy that India was buying oil. And he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That\u2019s a big step.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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For context, India is the second-largest buyer of Russian energy, after China. The country ramped up imports following Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which has been a sticking point in US-India trade talks. Trump also hinted he wanted a similar pledge from China.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He even admitted he might be breaking news with his claim. \u201cHe can\u2019t do it immediately; it\u2019s a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon,\u201d Trump added. Translation: he\u2019s confident, but reality is messier.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trump Jokes About PM Modi\u2019s Career<\/b><\/h3>\n

During the same address, Trump got self-aware and sarcastic. Referencing Sergio Gor, the US ambassador-designate to India, Trump said, \u201cHe loves Trump\u2026 I don\u2019t want you to take the word love any differently\u2026 I don\u2019t want to destroy his political career.\u201d The room laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gor had just returned from his first India visit since confirmation, where he met PM Modi and presented a signed photo of the two leaders. Trump was clearly basking in the optics: the friendliest handshake story, wrapped in political theatre.<\/span><\/p>\n

India Fires Back: Denial Mode Activated<\/b><\/h3>\n
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As expected, Delhi did not confirm Trump\u2019s claim. The Ministry of External Affairs, through spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, stressed that India\u2019s oil import policies focus on the \u201cinterests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jaiswal also explicitly denied any call between PM Modi and Trump regarding Russian oil. \u201cI am not aware of any conversation yesterday between the two leaders,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the US energy front, Jaiswal pointed out that India has been looking to expand energy procurement from America for years. Talks have been ongoing, and the current administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation. [Internal Link \u2192 placeholder]<\/span><\/p>\n

Domestic Reactions: Politics Meets Diplomacy<\/b><\/h3>\n

Back home, Trump\u2019s remarks fueled Opposition criticism. Rahul Gandhi, on X, suggested PM Modi was \u201cfrightened of Trump,\u201d citing repeated silences and continued flattery. Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi added, \u201cSilence is betrayal\u201d in this case.<\/span><\/p>\n

In short, Indian politics didn\u2019t skip a beat. Opposition figures pounced while PM Modi\u2019s team maintained the standard strategic quiet, letting facts, not gossip, dictate the narrative.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russia Enters the Conversation<\/b><\/h3>\n

Not one to sit quietly, Russia reminded everyone that its oil trade with India is mutually beneficial. Ambassador Denis Alipov stated, \u201cIndia and the US are independent in their decisions, and we do not interfere in those issues. Our oil supplies are very beneficial for the Indian economy and the welfare of the Indian people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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So while Trump paints a \u201cPM Modi-approved halt\u201d narrative, Moscow quietly reiterated the economic logic behind India\u2019s imports. It\u2019s a diplomatic shrug that says: we know our oil matters, and we\u2019re not leaving the party.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Trade Tensions Context: US Tariffs and Energy Politics<\/b><\/h3>\n

The backdrop here is more than just Twitterable quips. Earlier this year, Trump doubled tariffs on Indian imports to 50%, citing India\u2019s Russian oil trade. That forced weeks of negotiations, which continue behind closed doors.<\/span><\/p>\n

India\u2019s energy strategy is straightforward: diversify suppliers while keeping prices manageable for its domestic market. Russian oil is cheaper than most alternatives, and slashing purchases overnight would hit consumers and the economy. That\u2019s the real game Trump is trying to oversimplify for headlines.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Happened in 24 Hours<\/b><\/h3>\n