India is showing signs of diversifying its energy imports away from Russia, according to Trump administration trade official Jamieson Greer, who stated that New Delhi will make its own decisions and Washington is not dictating to other nations on who they can have relations with.
“India hasn’t always been a major buyer of Russian oil. That changed in the last couple of years with discounted prices due to the Ukraine war,” Greer said during a discussion hosted by The Economic Club of New York.
“But this is not a bedrock of their economy. I can already see them starting to diversify. I think they get it.”
Greer clarified that the US is not pressuring India or dictating its foreign policy decisions. “India is a sovereign nation. They will make their own calls,” he said.
The remarks come days after President Donald Trump has imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, including a 25 per cent penalty directly tied to India’s increased purchases of Russian oil.
Trump has repeatedly slammed India and China for continuing energy ties with Moscow, claiming they are "primary funders" of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Greer also defended the tariffs, noting that India holds a $40 billion trade surplus with the US and has long benefited from access to the American market. “They sell us far more than we sell to them. Still, they are being pragmatic,” he said.
He added that the 50 per cent tariff is split, half as part of reciprocal trade negotiations, and the other half as a penalty for the surge in Russian oil imports.
Greer reiterated Trump’s position that ramping up pressure on Russia, including via energy sanctions, is key to ending the conflict in Ukraine.
“We’ve urged our European allies, many of whom still buy Russian oil, to take similar action. It’s not just India, we’re speaking with China and others as well.”
India, for its part, maintains that its oil imports are guided by national interest and market factors.
(With inputs from PTI)
