India is standing its ground in the face of rising tensions with the United States over its ongoing trade with Russia, especially in the oil sector. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s recent trip to Moscow comes at a crucial time, with US President Donald Trump issuing stern warnings and threatening to sharply increase tariffs on Indian goods. The situation has created a noticeable strain in the long-standing ties between the world’s largest democracies.

The background to this episode is India’s decision to continue buying oil from Russia, despite rising Western sanctions against Moscow following the Ukraine conflict. At present, India fulfils almost 36-40% of its oil requirements by importing from Russia. This makes it the largest seaborne buyer of Russian crude, with nearly 1.75 million barrels arriving each day. The move has drawn severe criticism from President Trump, who recently claimed that India “doesn’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine” because of this energy partnership. In a recent CNBC interview, the US President declared his intention to “very substantially” raise tariffs on Indian imports within 24 hours, dismissing New Delhi’s reported offer of zero tariffs on American goods as inadequate.

Effect on US-India Relations

These threats have led to a dramatic cooling of US-India relations. Trump publicly remarked that India “has not been a good trading partner”. He also warned that India and Russia could “take their dead economies down together” if this oil trade continues.

Despite this sharp rhetoric, India has remained steadfast. The Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed Western criticism of its Russian oil imports as “unjustified and unreasonable”. India has pointed out that several Western nations also continue some forms of trade with Russia. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that India’s foreign relationships belong to India alone, and should not be viewed through the interests of third-party countries.

Doval’s Moscow Visit Strengthens Ties

Ajit Doval’s visit to Moscow has also pointed towards deepening strategic ties with Russia. Russian state media revealed that Doval is scheduled for several high-level meetings focussed on defence cooperation and regional security. These discussions are likely to include strengthening oil trade and exploring key defence deals. In the days leading up to Doval’s visit, India’s Ambassador to Russia met with Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, reaffirming a commitment to strengthen defence cooperation under the “particularly privileged strategic partnership”. Reports indicate the possibility of talks on new S-400 missile system orders and even Russia’s advanced Su-57 fighter jets.

India’s position remains clear. While the US pressures New Delhi to change its Russia policy, India remains determined to act in accordance with its own national interests. This position will be underscored further by the upcoming visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Moscow later this month. These frequent high-level exchanges signal India’s intent to continue balancing its partnerships: maintaining good relations with Russia while keeping doors open with the US, but always on terms that reflect India’s priorities. This highlights how India seeks to chart an independent path in global affairs, refusing to bow to foreign pressure, and making choices through the lens of national interest and pragmatic diplomacy.

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