Indian envoy to Russia Vinay Kumar boldly affirm that, India will buy oil from wherever it gets ‘best deal’, rejecting US pressure; describing U.S tariffs as ‘unfair, unjustified’
Kumar’s statement comes days before US President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on India, including a 25% penalty for buying Russian oil and weapons, are set to kick in.
On Sunday, US Vice-President JD Vance said that Trump had announced secondary tariffs on India to apply “aggressive economic leverage” on Russia and force it to stop the war in Ukraine.
Kumar had told Russia’s TASS news agency that India’s trade was based on market factors and that its priority remains energy security for its population.
“First of all, we have clearly stated that our objective is the energy security of 1.4 billion people Russian companies are also HIRING Indians amid an industrial workforce shortage.
“India’s cooperation with Russia, as with several other countries, has helped to bring stability to the global oil market.
“The US decision is unfair… the government will continue taking measures to protect national interests.” The envoy added
“There are other countries including the US itself and in Europe trading with Russia,” he as well pointed out that US has not imposed secondary tariffs on China – the largest importer of Russian oil – or the European Union, which still conducts a huge amount of trade with Russia.
He said that India maintained strategic autonomy in its decision-making, signalling that it would not be pressured by the US into reducing oil imports from Russia.
India maintains friendly relations with Ukraine, while Russia is one of its most important allies.
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