Trump Claims India Will Stop Buying Russian Oil After Modi’s Assurance

Published on: 16 Oct 2025 at 09:25 AM

Published by: Gill Bikram

Trump Claims India Will Stop Buying Russian Oil After Modi’s Assurance

In a surprising statement amid the ongoing tariff conflict between the United States and India, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him that India will stop purchasing oil from Russia. However, as of now, neither PM Modi nor the Indian government has issued any official response to Trump’s remarks.

Trump’s Bold Assertion

Responding to a question from news agency ANI about whether he considers India a reliable partner, Trump said:

“Yes, of course. He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) is my friend. We have a very good relationship… I was not happy that India was buying oil, but today he assured me that they will not purchase oil from Russia.”

Trump added that he expects a similar stance from China, urging Beijing to reduce its dependence on Russian energy imports as well.

U.S. Pressure on India

Tariffs: The U.S. has imposed tariffs on Indian imports in response to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Targeted Actions: India has previously stated that it is being unfairly targeted by the U.S. and the European Union over its decision to buy discounted Russian crude.
Major Buyers: Both India and China remain among the largest importers of Russian oil since the start of the Ukraine conflict.

Trump’s Previous Remarks

This is not the first time Trump has taken a hard line on the issue. Earlier, he urged the G7 nations to impose tariffs on countries buying oil from Russia and controversially referred to the Indian economy as “dead.” His former trade adviser, Peter Navarro, even labeled India a “profit-seeking nation.”

India’s Move Toward Energy Diversification

Trump’s latest comments come just a week after a senior U.S. official claimed that India has begun diversifying its energy imports.

U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer said:

“India has not always purchased this much oil from Russia. In the last two or three years, they started buying it at a discount. It’s not an essential part of their economy. We believe they can and should diversify — and frankly, we can already see that process beginning.”

U.S. Acknowledges India’s Sovereignty

Despite its firm tone, Washington has reiterated that India is a sovereign nation and has the right to make independent decisions regarding its energy and trade policies.