India Ignores Trump’s Threat: Will Not Cut Russian Oil Imports

According too the English section of webangah news Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and The New York Times, Indian officials announced on Saturday that despite ⁣threats of​ sanctions ​from the US president, they will continue purchasing oil from Russia.

The report noted that Prime Minister Narendra ‌modi’s ‌government’s defiance‍ of former President Trump’s threats reflects growing disappointment in a relationship between new ⁤Delhi and Washington once praised but now rapidly deteriorating.

The ⁢New York Times added that ⁣there is an increasing sentiment in India that its leaders ‍should ​not let the unpredictable‌ US policymaking dictate options for securing vital ⁤energy supplies for India’s massive ​1.4 billion population. Two senior Indian ⁤officials confirmed Saturday that no change has been made to India’s stance on Russian oil imports.

One official also‌ stated⁣ that the​ government has issued “no directive to oil⁣ companies”‍ to reduce imports from Russia.Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, avoided directly responding to Trump’s‍ threats during a recent ​press conference but reiterated‍ that there will be‍ no shift in India’s policy toward Russia.

In recent days,Trump warned that ⁣if India did not stop importing ⁣russian crude oil,it would face unspecified penalties in addition to a 25 percent tariff⁢ rate hike.

However, on Friday, Trump appeared to echo reports of a recent decline in Russian oil⁢ shipments to India when he told reporters: “I understand India will no longer buy oil from Russia. That is what I have heard. I don’t know if it is true or not. ⁤It‍ is⁤ a good step.”