Following the passage of a bill in the US Congress imposing tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries importing oil and gas from Russia, India has issued its response. Vinay Mohan Kwatra, India’s Ambassador to the United States, emphasized that energy security for the Indian people remains the highest priority. India and China are among the major countries purchasing oil and gas from Russia. On the social media platform X, Ambassador Kwatra stated, ‘The energy security of the Indian people comes first.’
India’s decisions are based on energy supply, affordability, market conditions, and commercial considerations. According to Ambassador Kwatra, ‘India imports more than 85 percent of its crude oil and nearly half of its natural gas requirements.’ Due to recent conflicts putting pressure on global supply, India has taken decisive steps to protect its citizens from price increases, measures that have helped stabilize the global energy market and prevented a major crisis, he added.
‘It is our collective responsibility to explore options beyond borders to ensure adequate, affordable, and continuous energy for our people,’ he further noted. Ambassador Kwatra highlighted that India sources fuel from partner countries in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Eurasia, and the Americas. In contrast, China has stated that the US legislation conflicts with international law and has indicated it is not obligated to comply.
