India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, reaffirmed the nation’s strategic energy ties with Russia amidst impending US tariffs, highlighting that India’s oil purchases are rooted in both national and global interests aimed at stabilizing oil prices. He emphasized India’s right to independently decide on energy procurement, countering US criticism that India is profiting from discounted Russian crude oil. Jaishankar pointed out the hypocrisy in focusing on India’s actions while ignoring that China is the largest importer of Russian oil and the European Union also conducts significant trade with Russia, effectively funding the conflict in Ukraine. He stated that India’s Russian oil imports surged from 1.7% of total imports in 2019-20 to 35.1% in 2024-25, reflecting a pragmatic shift following Western sanctions. Jaishankar noted previous discussions with the US administration that acknowledged India’s oil purchases were acceptable to stabilize the global market. He asserted that India’s procurement decisions are driven by strategic autonomy, underscoring the importance of energy security in a complex geopolitical landscape.