India Officially Denies Trump's Claim of Modi's Promise to Stop Russian Oil Purchases

The Indian government has issued a clear denial regarding claims made by US President Donald Trump about a recent telephone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

New Delhi:

India's Ministry of External Affairs officially rejected assertions by US President Donald Trump that he recently spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a phone call where the Indian PM allegedly promised to stop purchasing Russian oil.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated emphatically during a press briefing: "Regarding the comment from the US on the energy issue, we have already issued a statement for reference. As for the telephonic conversation, I can confirm that no discussion took place between the Prime Minister and President Trump."

The clarification came after Trump made remarks at a White House press event where he extensively discussed his relationship with PM Modi and India-US bilateral ties. Trump referred to Modi as "a great man" and called India "an incredible country," suggesting they had recently communicated and might meet during the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.

When questioned about this potential meeting, Trump responded, "Yeah, sure, he's a friend of mine. We have a great relationship." He continued by saying, "He's a great man. He loves Trump. I have watched India for years. It's an incredible country, and every single year you'd have a new leader. I mean, some would be in there for a few months, and this was year after year after year. And my friend has been there now for a long time."

During his comments, Trump claimed that PM Modi had "assured" him India would cease buying Russian oil. "He assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia," Trump stated. "You can't do it immediately - it's a little bit of a process - but the process is going to be over with soon. And all we want from President Putin...is to stop this."

Trump further suggested that India stopping its Russian oil purchases would make resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict "much easier." He added, "Within a short period of time, they will not be buying oil from Russia, and they'll go back to Russia after the war's over."

During the briefing, Trump also introduced Sergio Gor, the newly appointed US Ambassador to India, who was present in the Oval Office. "We have the new ambassador to India right here. They're well represented. You better represent us, not them, okay? But Sergio is going to do a great job," Trump remarked.

Following these claims, the Indian government reiterated its established policy on energy imports. The MEA issued a written statement emphasizing that India's decisions are guided by the interests of its consumers and national energy security rather than external political considerations.

"India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective," the MEA statement declared.

The ministry highlighted that India's approach to energy security is built on two key pillars: stable prices and assured supply. "Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy. This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions," the statement explained.

Regarding energy cooperation with Washington, the MEA noted that India has long sought to expand its energy engagement with the United States. "Where the US is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current Administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing," the ministry concluded.