Jaishankar defended India’s Russian oil imports, stressing that India will make independent decisions despite rising trade tensions with the US and President Trump’s openly public approach to foreign policy.
India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, has made it clear that the country will act in its own national interest, even as tensions with the United States grow over trade issues and India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil. Speaking at the Economic Times World Leadership Forum, Jaishankar explained that buying oil from Russia is not only important for India’s needs but also helps stabilize the global market. He also admitted that discussions with the Donald Trump administration on a trade deal have faced several challenges, saying that India has certain “red lines” it will not cross.
Jaishankar also pointed out that India’s decision to buy oil from Russia had nothing to do with President Trump’s move to raise tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent. “We’ve never seen a U.S. President conduct foreign policy so openly, and this approach isn’t limited to India,” he said, highlighting how public and unconventional the administration’s style has been.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods starting August 7, and another 25 per cent tariff on India’s crude oil trade with Russia is expected to take effect from August 27.
Jaishankar has strongly defended India’s stance on the U.S. imposing 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, saying that the interests of Indian farmers will always come first in any trade talks.
“When it comes to trade, protecting our farmers, maintaining strategic autonomy, and opposing outside mediation are non-negotiable for this government,” Jaishankar said. “If someone disagrees with that, they should openly tell the people of India that they won’t defend farmers’ interests or value our strategic autonomy.”
Jaishankar on Trump’s policy swings, says ‘don’t buy if you don’t like it’
Taking a dig at Washington, Jaishankar said he found it “ironic” that a “pro-business American administration” was busy accusing others instead of “minding its own business.” He added, “If you have a problem with India buying or selling oil, don’t buy it. Nobody is forcing you. Europe buys, America buys—if you don’t like it, don’t buy.”
He also clarified that while a U.S. delegation canceled its planned visit to India in August, trade talks between the two nations have not stopped. “Negotiations are still ongoing. There’s no situation where talks have broken off. Both sides are still in touch,” he said, but firmly added that India’s “red lines,” especially protecting farmers and small producers, will remain in place.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Jaishankar said President Donald Trump conducts foreign and trade policy in a very public way.
- He clarified that India’s Russian oil purchases were never discussed before the US announced 50% tariffs on Indian goods.
- He stressed that India will continue to make independent decisions despite ongoing trade tensions with the US.
- He noted that the tariff issue is being wrongly portrayed as a dispute over oil.
