India brushes aside Western pressure over Russian oil imports
By Colonel Awadhesh Kumar
The global order is now quite fragmented due to obstinate behaviour of USA and ostrich like behaviour of many of the Western countries. A multipolar world has emerged where the four main poles are USA, Russia, China and India. So only a sheer stupid can dream of pressurizing India over anything and especially where it’s national interest comes into play.
USA has implemented its unilateral tariff which is illegal as per the WTO, and the European Union too has expanded its illegal sanctions on Russian oil. However India remains unfazed as it recognizes only the UN sanctions and not these illegal whims of others. Should Western authorities try to tighten enforcement or target financial activities of India then they should be ready for reciprocal actions.
The likely first casualty will be the ongoing Free Trade Agreement between EU- India and even the already negotiated FTA between UK – India. In fact UK will be very hard hit incase of pull out of all Indian investments.
India imports more than 85% of its crude oil needs. Therefore affordable energy is crucial for sustaining growth in World’s third-largest economy by PPP and Asia’s second largest. With global prices volatile and OPEC+ production cuts tightening supply, Russian oil became a buffer against damaging inflation.
Russian crude sells at a significant discount compared to Brent or Middle Eastern grades. Even after factoring in longer shipping routes and higher insurance costs, the savings can reach $8–$12 per barrel.
Therefore India’s position on Russian oil reflects a very pragmatic calculation-one that prioritizes energy security over anything else, and national interest over any type of request / cajoling / begging, even pressure tactics or outright threat. India as a nation is fully capable of defending its national interest.
No wonder, India’s merrily continued purchase of discounted Russian crude oil shows no sign of reducing the volume despite intensified EU tantrums of all kinds. Trump too is busy with trumpeting his tariffs.
According to a new Reuters report citing preliminary data from Western oil-tracking firms Kpler and OilX, India’s imports of Russian oil instead of declining rose in October.
The Reuters data shows that in Oct 2025 India imported roughly 1.48 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude, a clear increase from 1.44 million bpd in September. OilX’s estimates closely match this figure, reporting 1.48 million bpd for October and 1.43 million bpd for September.
The increasing level of Russian oil imports underscores that India will continue buying oil from the cheapest source and will brook NO INTERFERENCE in this regard from any country whatsoever. Also India will not ditch its most reliable friend. Soviet Union had sent its Navy to Bay of Bengal in 1971 which had forced the USS Enterprise led flotilla sent by Nixon to coerce India, to back off
Russia became a reliable source of Oil and part India’s energy supply chain in 2022, when Western nations began imposing sweeping sanctions over the war in Ukraine and destabilized the International crude market. So when Europe and the United States drastically curtailed their imports from Russia, India and China stepped in to help themselves and Russia too. In fact Russia cleverly out manouevered the EU and the USA by pricing its crude barrels at prices below the G7-imposed cap of $60 per barrel. Thus share of Russian oil in India’s total crude intake has risen from mere 2% to nearly 34 %.
This increase in Indian imports has rightly been a visible snub to the United States and the European Union trying to coerce India by announcing fresh rounds of restrictions targeting Russian energy exports. Firstly, Washington imposed sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil and some of their subsidiaries. Shortly thereafter, Brussels acting like a lap dog implemented its 19th package of sanctions, blacklisting over 117 vessels linked to Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet”-tankers accused of breaking the Western monopoly on shipping and its insurance.
Despite the West ” flexing it’s muscles “, Indian refiners have shown total flexibility. The Reliance Industries, India’s largest private refiner, has been actively purchasing millions of barrels from the spot market since the latest G7 tantrums. This strategy allows refiners to continue securing Russian crude through intermediaries at competitive prices. Where as state-backed refiners-such as Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) continue buying from Russian producers as contracted but are avoiding new contracts. The balancing act illustrates India’s attempt to maintain stable supply lines. India has also diversified its oil imports and is buying from over 45 countries including USA.
The renewed rise in Russian oil imports comes even when USA and India are at loggerheads over trade talks and Trump’s tariffs. Donald Trump imposing a 25% extra tariff on Indian exports, citing India’s continued purchases of Russian crude as justification has not affected India’s stance at all. Indian exports to USA has come down by over 50% but exports to other countries have increased. Thus it is the American consumer which is suffering the most because of Trump’s whims and fancies.
After pumping up Zelenskey and starting the Conflict, Trump is now accusing both India and China of “funding Russia’s war machine” through their energy purchases, what a convoluted outlandish logic…..no wonder rubbished by both China and India.
Indian refiners are not only maintaining profitability but are also keeping domestic fuel prices quite stable. India’s has also increased its export of refined petroleum products, which have become a key source of foreign exchange revenue. Western financial hurdles have been hurled aside by resorting to payment in rupee / double.
With problems arising from ttraditional shipping networks, Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers-operating outside Western insurance systems-has kept flows stable. These vessels, often registered under obscure flags and operated through intermediaries, transport millions of barrels to Asian markets each month.
For the long term. India has also initiated actions to purchase/ build and operate its own fleet of large oil tankers. Thus, India will continue its Russian oil imports while keeping diplomatic channels open with both Washington and Moscow.
However, if push comes to shove then the recently concluded OPERATION SINDOOR shows that India has readied itself for everything.
