“We have strong defensive relationships with the United States …”: Mea says amid tariff tensions

After the United States decided to impose a 25 % tariff on Indian goods, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that despite commercial differences, India and the United States still exchanged a strong and growing defensive relationship.

“We have a strong defense partnership with the United States, which has been strengthening over the years,” Mea Randhir Jaiswal spokesman said on Friday.

He added that the partnership bears the greater potential in light of the India and the United States for the twenty -first century. He added that the India and the United States’s partnership has survived many transformations and challenges.

The comment indicates New Delhi’s intention to maintain strategic relations on the right track, even with the escalation of economic friction under the new trade position of Washington.

According to reports on the suspension of the purchase of Russian oil, Jaiswal said: “Our decisions in energy sources are guided by the best offer in the market, taking into account the prevailing global situation.”

He also added that the center has noticed Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25 % tariff on Indian exports and that it is studying and reviewing this step, with the choice of not responding to the statements of the “dead economy” of the American president. “We do not say what we say,” added Jessal.

Trump has warned of the 100 % definitions on nations that continue to buy Russian oil if Moscow fails to assume a peace agreement with Ukraine by 7-9 August. A 25 % tariff was released on all Indian exports to the United States from today (August 1).

Since 2022, India has emerged as the largest Russian oil buyer in the world, transcending to China and Turkey. As the third largest oil importer in the world, India is now getting up to 2 million barrels per day, which constitutes about 2 % of the global offer.

According to government data, India’s dependence on Russian oil imports reached 35 %, reaching $ 50.2 billion in the fiscal year 2024-25. It includes a variety of Russian oils that India bought ural from western ports, ESPO and Sokol from the Pacific Ocean, and some degrees of Arctic, as shown in LSEG data.

As a result, India may need to increase the imports of the United States and the Middle East crude or reduce refining, which may lead to an increase in diesel prices. This can have repercussions on Europe, which imports fuel from India.

(With Reuters inputs)