United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright lauded India’s growing role in the global energy landscape, stressing that Washington is eager to deepen cooperation with New Delhi across multiple sectors including natural gas, coal, nuclear power, and clean cooking solutions.
“I am a huge fan of India. We love India. We look forward to more energy trade, more interactions back and forth with India,” ANI quoted Wright as saying.
India Caught In The Middle Of Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Wright said India is caught in the middle of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, noting that sanctioned Russian oil diverted to China, India, and Turkiye is helping Moscow fund the war. He termed the conflict “brutal” and emphasized the need for peace, noting that it is a source of friction globally.
“India is caught up in the middle of another issue. President Trump’s greatest passion is peace in the world…The Russian war in Ukraine, of course, is brutal. We all want to see it come to an end. But where does the sanctioned Russian oil go? It goes to China, India, and Turkiye, and that helps Russia fund that war. The friction on that issue,”ANI quoted Wright as saying.
India-US Share Goal Of Ending Russia-Ukraine War
The US Energy Secretary said both Washington and New Delhi share the goal of ending the Russia-Ukraine war. He underlined America’s intent to expand energy cooperation with India in sectors such as natural gas, coal, nuclear, clean cooking fuels, and liquefied petroleum gas, adding that the US seeks “nothing more than more trade and energy cooperation with India.”
“We want to bring that war to an end, I believe the Indians want to bring that war to an end, and we want to expand our energy cooperation with India in natural gas, coal, nuclear, clean cooking fuels, liquid petroleum gas…We want nothing more than more trade and energy cooperation with India,” he said.
India Made Trade-Off To Buy Cheaper Russian Oil And Look Other Way
Wright said India continues to buy Russian crude mainly because it is available at discounted rates, despite the presence of several other oil exporters in the global market. He added that New Delhi has made a trade-off by opting for cheaper imports despite concerns that the revenue supports Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“There are lots of oil exporters in the world. India doesn’t need to buy Russian oil. India buys Russian oil because it is cheaper. Nobody wants to buy Russian oil; they have to sell it at a discount. India has decided to make the trade-off to buy cheaper oil and look the other way, which is giving money to a guy who’s murdering thousands of people every week,” ANI quoted Wright as saying.
US Says It Does Not Intend To Punish India Over Russian Oil Imports
The US Energy Secretary underlined that the US does not seek to punish India but wants to see the war in Ukraine end while also strengthening bilateral relations.
“We wish India would work with us to buy (oil). You can buy oil from every nation on earth, except Russian oil. That’s our position. America has oil to sell, so does everybody else. We don’t want to punish India. We want to end the war, and we want to grow our relations with India,” he added.
Trump’s 50% Tariffs
US President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian imports, with the first 25% levy applied over what the Washington described as unfair trade practices, and an additional 25% imposed as a penalty for India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. The full 50% tariffs came into effect on August 27.
India’s Stance On Trump’s Tariffs
India has strongly criticized the US decision, arguing that it is being unfairly targeted while several European countries continue to conduct large-scale imports of Russian oil and gas. New Delhi pointed out that Europe traded goods worth Euro 67.5 billion with Russia in 2024 and services worth Euro 17.2 billion in 2023, despite the ongoing conflict. Indian officials contend that this demonstrates a clear double standard, as European nations have not faced comparable restrictions despite maintaining significant commercial ties with Moscow.