By Admin 
America recently indicated that if India does not stop taking cheap oil from Russia by November, it may increase tariffs on India. This time Trump had clearly indicated that if India does not listen to him, the tariff will go up further. India has also increased its oil purchases from America in the last months, but like every time, the Americans are not backing down from putting pressure on India this time too.
When was pressure put on India regarding crude oil?
If we look at India’s foreign policy, one thing has been clear for decades that whenever India decides to buy oil for its own benefit, America comes forward. Since independence, India has purchased petroleum crude from many countries, but whenever India chose options beyond the scope of America, questions, pressure and warnings increased.
Post-independence period 1947–1970
This was the post-independence period when India’s needs were less and global politics was calm. In the initial years of independence, India’s oil needs were not very high. The country was based on agriculture and factories were also limited. At that time India bought most of the oil from Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. All these countries were considered close to western countries, hence America had no problem with India’s oil purchase.
Worldwide oil crisis after two decades of independence
The global oil crisis in the 1970s made it clear that oil is not just fuel but also power. India remained politically non-aligned, but in the matter of oil the same old countries remained the option. On the other hand, America was comfortable with this situation because the oil was coming from those countries which were under its influence.
India’s economy gained momentum in 1990
India’s economy grew rapidly after 1990. As factories increased in the country and oil consumption also started increasing, India started making long-term oil agreements with Iran and Iraq. During this period, America attacked Iraq and gradually started imposing sanctions on Iran. It was at this time that India realized for the first time that oil purchase could also become a political decision.
After the year 2000, Iran became a country that provided cheap and reliable oil to India. There were easy terms of payment and supplies were also available continuously, but America still did not like this relationship. Sanctions were imposed on Iran in the name of nuclear program and India was asked to reduce the purchase of oil from Iran. India struck a balance at that time and reduced oil, but did not stop it completely.
US stance after Trump becomes President for the first time
After Donald Trump became President for the first time in 2016, America’s stance became more strict. A direct ban was threatened on purchasing oil from Iran. Under compulsion, India once again had to stop oil from Iran due to the threat of America and had to increase the oil taken from Gulf countries. This decision was not India’s choice but a compulsion of circumstances.
Now after a few years, after the Ukraine war, India started buying oil from Russia at a cheaper price. India benefited economically from this, but America expressed concern over it. The difference this time was that America did not issue a strong threat, but kept the matter limited to advice and displeasure. The reason was clear, but India has now become a strong country at the global level and knows that oil is not just fuel but also politics.
India’s experience shows that oil purchase has never been a simple deal. Politics, pressure and strategy were involved in every phase. The only difference is that earlier India used to change decisions under pressure and today India takes decisions in the national interest on the basis of its own options.
India now decides based on its own advantage
Today, for India, oil is not just fuel for vehicles and factories, but is an issue related to the country’s security and economy. Despite America’s objections, India has shown that it will now buy oil on its own terms. This is the identity of changed India.