‘They are trying to ban India’: Russia Accuses US of Pressuring New Delhi to Stop Buying Russian Oil

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the United States of attempting to prevent India and other countries from buying Russian oil, describing Washington’s approach as coercive and aimed at achieving global economic domination.

In an interview with TV BRICS, reported by Sputnik, Lavrov alleged that the US is using sanctions, tariffs and other restrictive measures to pressure nations into abandoning Russian energy supplies in favour of more expensive American alternatives.

He claimed that despite those efforts, Washington has continued to impose fresh sanctions and engage in what he described as hostile actions at sea.

“New sanctions are imposed, a ‘war’ against tankers in the open sea is being waged in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They are trying to ban India and our other partners from buying cheap, affordable Russian energy sources (Europe has long been banned), and are forcing them to buy US LNG at exorbitant prices,” he said.

Lavrov Slams US ‘Coercive’ Energy Policy

Lavrov further alleged that the United States has set itself the objective of controlling global energy markets and the routes supplying major countries.

Calling these steps coercive and incompatible with fair competition, he said tariffs, sanctions, direct prohibitions and restrictions on engaging with certain partners were being used to meet those goals.

“We have to take all of this into account while remaining open just like India, China, Indonesia and Brazil to cooperation with all countries, including major powers such as the United States. We are in a situation where the Americans themselves are creating artificial obstacles along the way,” he added.

His remarks come amid speculation over India’s future oil imports from Russia following recent developments in India-US trade relations.

On Monday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reiterated that national interest would continue to guide India’s energy-related decisions, underlining that the key drivers of the country’s policy are “adequate availability, fair pricing and reliability of supply.”

New Delhi Reiterates Market-Based Approach to Energy Security

Misri noted that India is a net importer of oil and gas and, as a developing economy, must remain conscious of resource availability and the inflationary impact of import dependence.

He added that safeguarding the interests of Indian consumers remains a top priority for the government.

Earlier on Sunday, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that decisions on Russian oil imports are taken solely by domestic buyers and are not dictated by the recently concluded India-US interim trade agreement framework.

Speaking to ANI, he said it is in India’s “strategic interest” to diversify its energy sources and addressed concerns over any bilateral consensus on energy.

The Ministry of External Affairs has also stressed that diversifying energy sourcing in line with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics remains central to India’s strategy to ensure energy security for its population of 1.4 billion.

New Delhi Maintains Strategic Silence on Russian Oil Imports After Trade Deal

India has neither confirmed nor denied reports that it plans to reduce or halt imports of Russian crude after the United States rolled back a 25 per cent tariff imposed on Indian goods over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil.

US President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order removing the additional tariff after the announcement of a trade deal under which Washington agreed to reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent.

Responding to Trump’s assertion, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s long-standing position on energy security.

“So far as India’s energy sourcing is concerned, the government has stated publicly on several occasions that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians is the supreme priority of the government,” Jaiswal said last week.

“Diversifying our energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy to ensure this. All of India’s actions are taken and will be taken with this in mind,” he added.

India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude has remained a sensitive issue in its ties with the United States, with several American officials alleging that such imports help finance Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.

(With inputs from ANI)