Trump has been scolding India on purchasing oil imports of Russia claiming that this act should make Putin reconsider the war in Ukraine. The former president says he is able to influence the purchasing patterns in New Delhi to compel the Kremlin but what is glossed over is the part Washington played in guiding India toward Russian crude in the first place.
At the time that Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2024, Russia supplied less than 2% of Indian total oil imports. India had depended on local suppliers such as Iraq and Saudi Arabia. However, as Europe and other countries in the West have withdrawn their support on the Chinese purchases of Russian supplies, Moscow began to lower the costs and the Indian refiners did not hesitate to buy them. In a turn of events, Russia suddenly became the third largest supplier to India after going to more about 35-40 per cent market share of the Indian oil imports. Meanwhile, New Delhi refineries exported more fuel to Europe which no longer imported refined Russian fuels.
At that initial phase of the war, the United States had secretly supported the trade. The Biden government went as far as pressuring India to continue purchasing Russian crude to maintain energy markets around the world steady. Bob McNally, a former White House expert on energy cited that Biden directly requested India to purchase Russian oil so that it could avoid jumping of the prices. It is very evidenced by the way US has changed its tacit support to a condemning one proofs how indiscernible world energy politics can really be during the Ukraine standoff.
Criticisms by Trump of India against the taking of Russian oil appear to contradict the US policy which promoted the agreement leaving onlookers questioning the nation policy. Nonetheless, Indian actions turn out to be following its actions as officials advised at the beginning of the war and reflects how dynamic and tenuous geopolitical decisions can be when oil and geopolitics intersect.
Dutt Sanidhy
Hi, I’m Dutt Sanidhy, a writer who finds joy in expressing thoughts through words. Whether it’s fiction, poetry, or everyday reflections, I love turning ideas into stories that connect with people. Writing is not just my passion—it’s my way of understanding the world and sharing what I feel with others.