Officials in New Delhi said they are “closely monitoring” Washington after President Trump backed legislation that could slap 500 percent tariffs on nations buying Russian energy. For now, they insist the threat does not warrant alarm.
Russia has become India’s top crude supplier, accounting for 35 percent of oil imports (worth $50 billion in FY 2024‑25), up from virtually zero before 2022. Yet senior officials point out that traditional Gulf suppliers—Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE—still provide substantial volumes and that India has deliberately diversified sources as discounts on Russian grades narrow. Meanwhile, the US remains India’s largest export destination, with bilateral goods shipments hitting $86.5 billion last year.