Over the past week, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that his “good friend” PM Narendra Modi has vowed that India will stop buying Russian oil.
Did PM Modi say that? Will India actually jeopardise the energy security of her over 1.4 billion citizens? As far as Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, is concerned, these PM Modi-Trump conversations seem to be a figment of the latter’s imagination.
Trump really wants to end the Russian-Ukraine war. It is something that he promised to do within 24 hours of becoming POTUS. 10 months later, that is still not the case. But Trump isn’t one for excuses. No, no. He’s been busy, of course. After all, he's ended 8 wars since entering the White House in January.
At the UN General Assembly a month ago, Trump called out China and India for being “the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil”. However, Trump’s other friends, the EU and NATO, are still buying Russian energy products.
Yes, India imports Russian oil, accounting for roughly 34% of its total imports. Because unfortunately, unlike the US, Russia, and a few others, India is not blessed with abundant natural reserves of oil, gas, and more.
Besides, as everyone knows, we Indians love a good deal. More oil for less money? Sign us up!
But for arguments and Trump’s sake, let’s say those conversations did happen. It is highly unlikely that anyone from the Indian government will come out and say so.
New Delhi has to play coy. After all, we are friends of Trump as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin. Diplomacy may not be a priority for some but it is for India.
Time will tell if Trump is indeed telling the truth. If that happens, and he manages to end the Russian-Ukraine war, maybe then he can finally get his hands on his precious Nobel Peace Prize.
