Former diplomat Shringla urges India to keep Russian oil amid US diesel deal
Former foreign secretary Shringla argued that India must continue buying Russian oil despite recent US sanctions and President Trump's diesel purchase from Russia.
At a discussion hosted by the Asia Policy Society Institute, former foreign secretary Shringla, alongside former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, addressed the challenges India faces in its energy imports. He noted that India-US trade negotiations have stalled, with US trade representative Jamieson Greer and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman indicating no imminent resolution and uncertainty over potential tariffs.
Shringla referenced the removal of a US exemption for Iranian oil during the previous administration and the 2019 sanctions on Venezuelan crude, arguing that abandoning Russian oil would destabilise global oil markets. He emphasized that India's priority is the energy security of its 1.4 billion population, even as the United States recently announced a purchase of Russian diesel following a call with President Vladimir Putin. The conversation also touched on India-China relations, citing recent border disengagement in Ladakh and the need for balanced economic integration.
Why it matters
India's oil choices affect global energy markets and its own energy security amid US pressure.
In this story
