India defies U.S. pressure, vows to keep buying Russian oil

By ramontomeydw // 2025-09-11

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Despite U.S. criticism and threats of sanctions, India continues purchasing heavily discounted Russian crude oil, prioritizing its economic interests over geopolitical pressures.
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defends the purchases, citing a 40 percent discount compared to EU prices that helps stabilize India's foreign exchange reserves and lowers energy costs.
White House officials accuse India of enabling Russia's war economy by refining and reselling Russian oil, but Indian leaders dismiss these claims, asserting compliance with international norms.
Indian PM Modi's meeting with Putin and Xi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit signals strengthening alliances, raising concerns in the West about a shifting global power balance.
Trump's administration faces a tough choice: Escalate sanctions and risk pushing India further into the Russia-China orbit or accept a new reality where economic pragmatism outweighs ideological alliances.

In a bold defiance of Western pressure, India has doubled down on its economic alliance with Russia, pledging to continue purchasing discounted crude oil despite mounting criticism from the U.S. and threats of punitive tariffs. India, the world's third-largest oil importer, has become the top buyer of Russian seaborne crude since Western sanctions redirected Moscow's exports eastward. Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended the purchases as purely economic, stating that New Delhi must prioritize its own financial stability over geopolitical pressures. "Where we buy our oil from … we will have to take a call on what suits us best. We will undoubtedly be buying [Russian oil]," she told CNN-News18. According to Sitharaman, crude imports consume a significant portion of India’s foreign exchange reserves. "India has benefited from purchasing Russian crude by securing oil at a steep 40 percent discount compared to European Union nations, drastically reducing energy costs," notes Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine. "This shift has also allowed India to strengthen trade ties with Russia while Western sanctions created a surplus of discounted Russian oil." (Related: China, India buying Russian crude at 40% discount compared to EU nations) The stance has drawn sharp rebukes from U.S. officials – including White House Senior Counselor to the President for Trade and Manufacturing Peter Navarro, who accused New Delhi of enabling Russia's war economy by refining and reselling fuel at inflated prices. Sitharaman dismissed Navarro's claims, noting that the global diplomatic world is "astonished that such kind of expression is being used for India." Earlier, Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri wrote in a column for The Hindu newspaper that New Delhi isn't profiteering from importing Russian crude. He argued that, on the contrary, it helps keep global oil prices in check. "India's adherence to all international norms prevented a catastrophic $200 per barrel shock," Puri wrote in his Sept. 1 piece. "Some critics allege that India has become a 'laundromat' for Russian oil. Nothing could be further from the truth."

New Delhi's bold stand: India refuses to bow as U.S. loses grip

The friction comes amid stalled U.S.-India trade talks and retaliatory tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, which estimates the measures could shave 0.6 to 0.8 percent off India's GDP growth. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick framed the dispute as a test of loyalty, urging India to "support the dollar" or face prolonged economic penalties. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit – a bloc increasingly seen as a counterweight to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The meeting of the three leaders signals deepening ties between the three nations. The escalating geopolitical rift underscores a widening divide between the West and rising Eastern powers, one that could reshape global energy markets and diplomatic alliances for years to come. "Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China," U.S. President Donald Trump's sarcastic post on Truth Social read, hinting at Washington's growing unease over the emerging axis. Historical context amplifies the stakes. India's non-aligned tradition during the Cold War allowed it to navigate between superpowers, but today's multipolar world demands harder choices. With China and India now accounting for nearly half of Russia's oil exports, the West's leverage wanes as alternative trade networks solidify. As tensions simmer, the Trump administration faces a dilemma: Escalate pressure on New Delhi and risk pushing it further into Moscow and Beijing's orbit, or concede to a new reality where economic pragmatism trumps ideological alliances. For now, India's message is clear: It will not sacrifice its prosperity for geopolitical posturing. Visit Power.news for more similar stories. Watch former U.S. Department of Defense official Michael Rubin pointing out the hypocrisy of Washington buying Russian oil while admonishing India for doing the same. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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New Delhi's bold stand: India refuses to bow as U.S. loses grip

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