Indian leaders have warmly welcomed Donald Trump’s announcement of a long-awaited trade deal with the US — but they are being much more reticent about the breakthrough the president says made it possible: a claimed commitment by New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made no mention of oil when he hailed Trump’s “wonderful announcement” on Monday. Nor did his commerce minister on Tuesday as he suggested negotiators at the talks had still to reach a “final understanding” on a deal Trump says will cut punitive US tariffs.
Any halt to India’s purchases of Russian oil would have far-reaching implications, testing New Delhi’s “strategic partnership” with Moscow, adding to the strain on Vladimir Putin’s government of funding its war in Ukraine and creating a major challenge for Indian refiners used to easy access to discounted crude.