Diversifying Energy Procurement: MEA Responds to US President's Oil Trade Claim

PTI, NEW DELHI, OCT 16, 2025 :  India on Thursday said it is "broad-basing and diversifying" its sourcing of energy to meet market conditions, hours after US President Donald Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him that New Delhi would stop procuring Russian crude oil. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to questions on Trump's remarks that Modi made the assurance to him on Wednesday, said he was not aware of any such phone conversation, adding India's oil purchases are guided to safeguard the interests of Indian consumers in a "volatile" energy scenario. "Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy. This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions," Jaiswal added.

However, he did not directly reply to questions on the US President's claim that he had been assured by Modi that India will stop buying Russian energy. "As per my information, there was no phone conversation between PM Modi and President Trump yesterday," he said. The last phone conversation between Modi and Trump was on October 9, Jaiswal suggested.

The MEA spokesperson said India's import policies are guided entirely by national interest, adding that it has been looking at expanding energy ties with the US as well. India's continuing purchase of petroleum products from Russia, notwithstanding Western sanctions, has become a major issue that resulted in a severe downturn in ties between New Delhi and Washington.

In Washington, Trump told reporters on Wednesday that "he (Modi) assured me today they will not be buying oil from Russia. That's a big stop." Describing Modi as a "friend" and a "great leader," Trump said, "We were not happy with him buying oil from Russia because that lets Russia continue with this ridiculous war, where they've lost a million and a half people." The US President said India may not be able to cut the procurement immediately, but the process has started. "It (process) has started. He can’t do it immediately. It's a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over soon," the US President said.

In his remarks, Jaiswal noted that India is holding talks with the Trump administration on boosting bilateral energy ties. "Where the US is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade," he said. "The current administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing," he added.

Explaining India's policy on energy procurement, Jaiswal said it is driven by national interest. "India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario," he said. "Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective," he said.

Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov said at an event on Thursday that Russia is India's most reliable "energy partner" and Russian crude oil accounts for a third of India's energy purchases. Washington has been maintaining that India is helping Putin to finance the war through its purchase of Russian crude oil.