New Delhi: India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian oil is “most certainly a point of irritation” in its relationship with Washington and is indirectly helping to sustain Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday.
"Look, global trade – India is an ally. It’s a strategic partner. Like anything in foreign policy, you’re not going to align 100 percent of the time on everything,” Rubio said in an interview with Fox Radio, when asked about President Donald Trump’s latest tariff decision and US disappointment over India’s ties with Russia. Rubio acknowledged India’s energy needs and the economic logic behind its oil imports from Moscow.
“India has huge energy needs and that includes the ability to buy oil and coal and gas and things that it needs to power its economy like every country does, and it buys it from Russia, because Russian oil is sanctioned and cheap and – meaning they have to – in many cases, they’re selling it under the global price because of the sanctions.”
But he warned that such purchases come at a cost to the West and Ukraine. “Unfortunately, that is helping to sustain the Russian war effort. So it is most certainly a point of irritation in our relationship with India – not the only point of irritation. We also have many other points of cooperation with them."
Rubio said Trump’s recent policy moves reflect rising frustration in Washington over New Delhi’s choices. “But I think what you’re seeing the President express is the very clear frustration that with so many other oil vendors available, India continues to buy so much from Russia, which in essence is helping to fund the war effort” and allowing this war to continue in Ukraine, he said.
His comments came a day after President Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all goods coming from India, effective August 1, along with an additional penalty for India’s ongoing purchases of Russian crude oil and military equipment.
The move is widely seen as a pressure tactic aimed at forcing India to shift its energy and defence alignments. The US has recently secured favourable trade deals with Japan, the United Kingdom and the European Union.
New Delhi has so far responded cautiously. The Indian government said it is assessing the implications of the tariffs and reiterated its commitment to protecting national interests.
India has said it will take all necessary steps to safeguard and promote national interest and that the implications of the tariffs are being examined.
