External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar defended India’s oil trade and strategic autonomy amid US tariffs, rejecting mediation with Pakistan and criticising accusations of profiteering from Russian oil purchases.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took a jibe at the United States and Europe over the imposition of tariffs on Indian goods, firmly stating that no one was compelled to purchase refined oil or related products from India.
While speaking at a media event, Jaishankar said, “It’s funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, don’t buy it. Nobody forces you to buy it. Europe buys, America buys, so you don’t like it, don’t buy it.”
In response to US President Donald Trump’s claim that he had brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Jaishankar emphasised the national consensus within India against allowing any third-party mediation on bilateral matters with its neighbour.
He further outlined the Indian government’s consistent stance on trade, the protection of farmers’ interests, and strategic autonomy. “When it comes to the trade, the interests of farmers, when it comes to our strategic autonomy, when it comes to opposition to mediation, this government is very clear” Jaishankar said.
He went on to challenge critics by saying, “If anybody disagrees with us, please tell the people of India that you are not prepared to defend the interests of farmers. Please tell the people of India you don’t value strategic autonomy. We do. We will do whatever we have to do to maintain it.”
Jaishankar’s remarks come amid rising tensions in the relationship between the US and India, following Trump’s decision to impose 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods. An additional 25 per cent tariff was also levied as a punitive measure in response to India’s increased imports of Russian oil. Notably, no equivalent tariffs have been applied to Chinese imports, despite China being the largest buyer of Russian oil.
The Indian government condemned the move as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” and declared that it would “take all actions” necessary to safeguard its national interests. The Ministry of External Affairs also highlighted that other countries are similarly buying Russian oil for strategic reasons and expressed disappointment at India being singled out.
Previously, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused India of “profiteering” from its significantly increased purchases of Russian oil amid the Ukraine conflict. He described the US position on the matter as one of strong disapproval.
In an interview with CNBC, Bessent revealed that Russian oil now constituted 42 per cent of India’s total oil imports, a sharp increase from less than 1 per cent prior to the war. Meanwhile, China, the top importer of Russian oil, had raised its share modestly from 13 per cent to 16 per cent.
