ASIATODAY.ID, NEW DELHI – India has firmly declared that it does not need “permission” from the United States—or any other country—to purchase Russian oil, underscoring its commitment to an independent energy policy despite mounting geopolitical pressure.
In a statement released by the government’s Press Information Bureau, New Delhi emphasized that Russia remains India’s largest crude oil supplier, even as Western countries continue urging the South Asian nation to scale back its imports from Moscow.
The clarification came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Washington would allow India a 30-day waiver to continue buying Russian crude. The temporary measure was reportedly intended to stabilize global energy markets amid escalating tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran.
Global oil markets have been rattled by the crisis. Prices have surged by more than 30 percent as the conflict approaches its first week, while the strategic Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and LNG supplies pass—remains closed.
However, New Delhi made it clear that its energy decisions are not dependent on Washington’s approval.
“India has never depended on permission from any country to buy Russian oil,” the government said in the statement.
Officials also stressed that the country would not rely on “short-term waivers” to maintain its energy imports.
According to the government, previous attempts by the United States to pressure India into abandoning Russian energy supplies had little impact.
“India is still importing Russian oil even through February 2026, and Russia remains India’s largest crude oil supplier,” the statement noted.
India significantly increased purchases of Russian oil after 2022, when the United States and the European Union imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
Discounted Russian crude quickly became an attractive option for Indian refiners seeking affordable supply.
In July 2025, India’s Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri revealed that nearly 40 percent of the country’s oil imports were coming from Russia.
A government official told The Times of India that US sanctions policy does not dictate India’s decisions. Instead, New Delhi prioritizes “affordability, availability, and sustainability” when determining its energy sources.
Another official reportedly dismissed Washington’s remarks about the waiver as “hollow slogans.”
Pressure from Washington has persisted. The US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, said last month that the White House was using trade negotiations to encourage India to shift toward Venezuelan oil instead of Russian supplies.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed that India had “agreed to stop” importing Russian oil. New Delhi has never confirmed such a pledge, continuing instead to emphasize its policy of “strategic autonomy” in foreign affairs and energy security.
With this stance, India is signaling that its energy strategy will remain driven by national interests—regardless of geopolitical pressure from Washington or its Western allies. (RT)
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