India has reaffirmed its steady and time-tested partnership with Russia, asserting that its foreign relations are guided by independent merit and not influenced by third-party perspectives. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India’s ties with any country stand on their own merit and should not be viewed through the prism of another nation. His remarks came during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, following heightened criticism from the United States over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Jaiswal’s statement came less than 24 hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described India’s energy trade with Russia as a “point of irritation” in bilateral relations. Rubio acknowledged India as a strategic partner but emphasized that foreign policy alignment is rarely absolute. He noted that India’s substantial energy needs drive its decision to buy discounted Russian oil, which, due to sanctions, is often sold below global market prices. Rubio argued that such purchases indirectly support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
The diplomatic tension escalated further when U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff and an additional penalty on Indian imports, citing India’s trade ties with Russia and what he called excessively high and obstructive trade barriers. In a strongly worded social media post,
Trump accused India of maintaining “the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers” globally and claimed that these policies have hindered deeper commercial engagement. He added that despite India being a friend, the U.S. has done relatively little business with it due to high tariffs. He also pointed out India’s longstanding reliance on Russian military supplies and its position as one of the largest buyers of Russian energy, alongside China.
India’s response signals a firm stance on strategic autonomy and energy security, reinforcing its commitment to sovereign decision-making in the face of external pressure.
