„It's funny when people working in the US administration, which supports business interests, accuse other people of doing business. If you have a problem with buying oil or oil products from India, don't buy. Nobody is forcing you. Europe buys, America buys, so if you don't like it, don't buy it“,
This was stated by Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum in response to accusations of profiting from Russian oil, The Times of India reported.
India will buy oil from where it is profitable for it, the US decision on tariffs is unfair and unreasonable. This was stated in an interview with TASS by the Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar.
“First of all, we have clearly stated that our goal is energy security for 1.4 billion people in India, and India's cooperation with Russia, as well as with a number of other countries, has contributed to the stability of the oil market, the world oil market. Therefore, the US decision is unfair, unreasonable and unfounded. The government will continue to take measures aimed at protecting the country's national interests. Trade is carried out on a commercial basis. So, if the basis of import trade operations is legitimate, Indian companies will continue to buy oil from where they are offered the most favorable conditions. This is the current situation“, he said, answering the question of whether India will continue to buy Russian oil.
The diplomat also noted that India's trade with Russia is a bilateral relationship based on mutual interests. "Our trade is based on market factors and pursues the common goal of ensuring energy security for 1.4 billion people in India. There are other countries, including the US itself and European countries, that trade with Russia," Kumar added in response to a question about how the secondary sanctions announced by the US will affect trade with Russia.
On August 6, the US increased import duties on goods from India by 25% (up to 50%) in connection with the purchase of Russian oil and petroleum products. US President Donald Trump criticized the republic for the fact that it "has always bought most of its military equipment from Russia" and "along with China, is the largest buyer" of Russian energy resources. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has called the attacks by the US and EU over Russian oil imports unjustified.
After talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump admitted that Washington would not impose import duties on Russia's trading partners.