India’s foreign ministry has stated it is “not aware” of a recent phone conversation in which former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to cease purchasing Russian oil. Trump made these assertions during a statement on Wednesday, indicating that Modi had “assured me today” that Russia’s oil imports would come to an end. This claim comes as part of the U.S. efforts to apply economic pressure on Russia to halt its actions in Ukraine.
When queried about the conversation the following day, an Indian government spokesperson expressed uncertainty regarding Trump’s account, clarifying that he was “not aware of any conversation between the two leaders” that occurred the previous day. The Indian government had previously indicated that discussions regarding Russian oil purchases were still “ongoing” with the United States.
Amidst this uncertainty, a White House official confirmed that Trump plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin later on Thursday. Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, India has emerged as a significant energy customer for Russia, which has allowed the Kremlin to alleviate some pressures resulting from reduced oil and gas imports by Ukraine’s allies.
Under the Trump administration, the U.S. has exerted pressure on India to lessen its support for the Russian energy sector, aiming to isolate the Kremlin economically in response to its actions in Ukraine, which began with a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Trump stated that he received assurances from Modi on Wednesday that India would halt its Russian oil purchases “within a short period of time.”
The Indian government’s initial remarks did not directly challenge the existence of the phone call but emphasized its commitment to safeguarding consumer interests amid fluctuating energy prices. However, the subsequent response raised further questions regarding any potential agreement between Washington and New Delhi. India remains heavily reliant on Russian crude oil, which it imports at discounted prices, making it a vital trading partner for Russia while complicating U.S.-India relations.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8eykdy0567o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss