Oil has always been not only a source of energy for India, but it has also been an important pillar of its foreign policy and economic stability. For a country with a population of 140 crore, the question of energy security is directly related to inflation, growth rate and social stability, but as energy trade is becoming a weapon in global politics, India’s oil import is also no longer just an economic decision. The US’s threats of tariffs and sanctions on its trading partners related to Russia and Iran have further increased this sensitivity.

After the Ukraine war, India gave relief to its domestic economy by purchasing cheap crude oil from Russia, but now there is strict monitoring and pressure from America regarding this decision. On the other hand, the American proposal to open Venezuelan oil to India is being considered a major strategic turning point in this entire incident. The question is whether India will be able to take independent decisions for its energy needs or will it have to change its policy according to the global balance of power?

India’s energy dependence and strategic compulsion

India is the third largest oil importer in the world. About 90 percent of the country’s crude oil needs are met through imports. Oil plays an important role in every sector like transportation, power generation, industry, agriculture and logistics. In such a situation, even a slight fluctuation in oil prices in the global market has a direct impact on inflation, rupee exchange rate and government subsidies in India. Before the Ukraine war, India’s oil imports were mainly dependent on Middle-Eastern countries, but after the war, due to Western sanctions, Russia provided crude oil at concessional rates. India took advantage of this opportunity and gave priority to economic stability along with energy security. This decision is making India a sensitive partner in the eyes of America today.

Oil purchases from Russia and US tariff pressure

After the Ukraine war, America and its allies imposed comprehensive economic sanctions on Russia. Although India did not formally participate in these sanctions, it faced constant diplomatic pressure to buy oil from Russia. According to reports, India has purchased crude oil worth more than 140 billion euros from Russia since 2022. US President Donald Trump made this issue more aggressive. He threatened to impose tariffs of up to 500 percent on countries buying oil from Russia, such as India, China and Brazil.

Fear of Iran and 25 percent additional tariff

America has announced to impose 25 percent additional tariff on Iran’s trade partners. India has been an important trading partner of Iran. Be it oil import or strategic projects like Chabahar Port. In such a situation, it is feared that this new tariff may be applicable to India also.

venezuelan oil

The most interesting twist in this entire incident has come regarding Venezuelan oil. America is now ready to sell Venezuelan oil to India. This is the same Venezuela from which India had earlier stopped buying oil due to US sanctions.

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Russia said on Wednesday (20 August 2025) that India matters a lot to Russia. This reflects the strength in the relationship between the threats of tariffs by US President Donald Trump, who has imposed tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil. Roman Babushkin of the Russian Embassy in India criticized the tariff imposed by Donald Trump on India for purchasing Russian oil in a press conference and said that American pressure was wrong and unilateral. He said that if the West country criticizes you, it means that you are doing everything right.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently interacted with President Vladimir Putin on telephone. In this conversation, issues like Russia-Ukraine war and bilateral cooperation were discussed. India has consistently called for a peaceful solution to Ukraine conflict. India’s strategy has been to maintain balance with both America and Russia. While America is a big business and strategic partner of India, Russia is a traditional ally of India. This is the reason that India denied the possibility of stopping oil imports from Russia.

Russia will never ban India-Babushkin
The US has used economic sanctions as a weapon in recent years. Babushkin believes that this is also decreasing global confidence in the dollar. He clearly said that Russia will never ban India nor put economic pressure. In contrast, Russia has developed a special system to maintain crude oil supply to India, so that this partnership can remain unaffected by American pressure.

Putin’s possible India visit and trilateral cooperation
Babushkin also informed that President Vladimir Putin will visit India by the end of this year and meet Prime Minister Modi. This journey can fill new energy in India-Russia relations. At the same time, Russia also described China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India as very successful and hoped that there will be a tripartite meeting of India-Russia-China soon. This tripartite cooperation can play an important role in Asia’s geopolitics.

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Us President Donald Trump on China: The base tariff of 25 percent is already applicable over India by US President Donald Trump. Along with this, due to purchasing oil from Russia, India has been imposed an additional 25 percent tariff as a penalty, which will be effective from August 27. On the other hand, no action has been taken on China from the US so far. Both India and China from Russia are big buyers of oil. In such a situation, President Trump has given a big statement about China on Friday.

When will Panelty be applied on China?

He said that due to buying oil from Russia, there is no need to install tariffs immediately on countries like China and they can see the matter again in the next two-three weeks.

President Trump threatened to re -ban Moscow again, saying that if steps are not taken to end the Ukraine war, then first restrictions would be imposed on Russia and then the countries who buy oil from it. Significantly, Moscow’s largest buyers remain Asian countries, India and China.

Trump said- will consider in two to three weeks

In response to a question asked by Fox News, “Can you consider putting tariffs like India on China even after not getting meaningful results in the meeting held in Alaska with Russia?” – President Trump said that on the basis of a meeting with Putin, it would not be appropriate to take a decision to put a tariff immediately on China. This can be thought of in the next two-three weeks, but there is no need to consider it at the moment.

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