Amid the diplomatic whirlwind between India and the US, with Donald Trump threatening India over its trade in Russian oil, an earlier comment by former US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has exposed the hypocrisy and self-contradictory stance of the US administration. In a now-viral video, Garcetti admits that it was the US that had, in fact, encouraged New Delhi to purchase oil from Moscow to stabilise global oil prices.

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“They bought Russian oil because we wanted somebody to buy Russian oil at a price cap. That was not a violation or anything. It was actually the design of the policy because, as a commodity, we didn’t want the oil prices going up, and they fulfilled that,” Garcetti said at an event last year, while serving as the Ambassador.

In the wake of Trump’s threats and India’s firm response, a video of the US Ambassador’s remarks is now being widely circulated.

India is the largest buyer of seaborne Russian crude. Rejecting reports of Indian firms halting oil trade with Russia, the government said earlier this week that its purchases were driven by multiple market factors, including discounted pricing. Garcetti also stressed that the US had encouraged India to buy Russian oil to help stabilise global prices.

Donald Trump has escalated his administration’s pressure on India over its continued trade with Russia, specifically targeting its substantial purchases of Russian oil. In a series of recent statements and social media posts, he has even accused India of “financing” Russia’s war effort in Ukraine and profiting from the resale of discounted Russian crude.

In response to the mounting pressure, India on Monday firmly defended its energy policy, calling the US stance “unjustified and unreasonable”. The government reiterated that India’s decisions on energy sourcing are based on market dynamics, national interest, and the need to secure affordable and predictable energy supplies for its citizens.

In New Delhi’s response to Washington, it also pointed out that “the United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy market stability”.

“India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by the global market situation. However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” the government’s fitting response read.

Trump has recently imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports and threatened additional penalties and tariffs, as high as up to 100 per cent, over India’s continued trade with Russia. Trade deal negotiations between India and the US have recently stalled, although India has expressed its willingness to continue the talks, while firmly maintaining that it will not compromise on key sectors such as agriculture and dairy.

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Published By: Ajmal Published On: Aug 5, 2025

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