Amid Trumps tariff threat, NSA Ajit Doval to visit Moscow to reinforce India-Russia ties
This energy policy has not only helped keep domestic fuel prices in check but also benefited European nations, which are major buyers of Indian diesel and jet fuel, reports mention. According to trade data, India's crude petroleum imports from Russia in May dropped by nearly 10 per cent to $9.2 billion, but Russia remains a major supplier.
New Delhi: Amid growing rhetoric in the United States over India's continued trade relations with Russia, and US President Donald Trump's threat to substantially hike tariffs on Indian goods, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is visiting Moscow today to reinforce the strategic partnership between India and Russia, a report by The Times of India mentioned.
Doval's visit comes amid wider scrutiny over India increasing its imports of discounted Russian oil, purchases that Trump claimed are fueling Moscow's war on Ukraine.
Despite the pressure, India has maintained that its energy decisions are based on national interest and consumer affordability. "We will act in the best interest of Indian consumers and choose the most cost-effective option available. If Russian crude continues to be more affordable than other sources, there's no reason to penalise our citizens," a senior government official told TOI.
Russian crude remains cheaper than others
Officials also said that India may seek deeper discounts from Moscow in response to Trump's remarks. Russian crude remains significantly cheaper than supplies from West Asia or the United States, and India has no plans to scale down imports, which have surged from just 0.2 per cent before the Ukraine war to nearly 40 per cent of the country's overall oil imports.
This energy policy has not only helped keep domestic fuel prices in check but also benefited European nations, which are major buyers of Indian diesel and jet fuel, reports mention. According to trade data, India's crude petroleum imports from Russia in May dropped by nearly 10 per cent to $9.2 billion, but Russia remains a major supplier.
India’s oil trade with Russia, officials said, has been conducted with full transparency and in broad understanding with the US. In a statement, trade research body GTRI said: "One of the key reasons India stepped up Russian oil purchases was to help stabilise global oil markets after Western sanctions disrupted traditional supply chains. By maintaining diversified and affordable energy access, India contributed to preventing a global oil price shock. Trump's decision to raise tariffs on India citing oil trade is not only unjustified — it ignores market realities, misrepresents trade data, and undermines a key strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific."
Jaishankar to also visit Moscow this month
After Doval's visit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also expected to travel to Moscow later this month, The Economic Times reported. The visits aim to deepen energy and defence cooperation between the two long-time strategic partners.
Meanwhile, Russia has strongly criticised Trump's posture, accusing the United States of pursuing a "neo-colonial" policy to maintain its hegemony over the Global South.
"We firmly believe that no tariff wars or sanctions can halt the natural course of history. We are supported by a vast number of partners, like-minded states, and allies, particularly among the countries of the Global South and, above all, within BRICS, who share this perspective," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a statement.