India Says Russia Ties Time-Tested After Trump Jibe; Defence and Oil Policy Driven by National Interest

India has firmly pushed back against suggestions of tension in its relationship with Russia following a series of provocative remarks and trade threats from US President Donald Trump. 

Responding to questions at a press briefing on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that India’s bilateral ties with Russia are “steady and time-tested” and not subject to approval from third parties. 

File Photo Source: PM NaMo on X

“Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. “India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership.”

The statement came just a day after Trump lashed out on his social platform Truth Social, saying: “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care.”

Trump also justified the imposition of a 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing India’s high trade barriers and its deepening economic ties with Russia. 

He further claimed the US “does very little business with India,” and mocked Russia’s economy in the same breath.

Addressing these comments, Jaiswal underlined that while India values its strategic partnership with the United States, it will continue pursuing an independent foreign policy. 

“India and the United States share a comprehensive global strategic partnership anchored in shared interests, democratic values, and robust people-to-people ties,” he said. “This partnership has weathered transitions and challenges.”

India has been under growing scrutiny from Washington for its energy purchases and defense ties with Russia amid ongoing Western sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict. 

However, officials in New Delhi have made it clear that energy security and defense sourcing are determined solely by strategic necessity. 

“The sourcing of our defence requirements is determined solely by our national security imperatives and strategic assessments,” Jaiswal added.

On Trump’s outlandish suggestion that India might one day purchase oil from Pakistan, Jaiswal refused to engage, saying: “I have no comments to offer in this matter.”

India continues to import over 35–40% of its oil from Russia, a dramatic rise from just 0.2% before the Ukraine war. MEA also clarified that reports of Indian oil firms halting Russian imports are unconfirmed.

Meanwhile, on the recent US sanctions on Indian firms for trading with Iran, the MEA said the matter is under review: “We have taken note of the sanctions, we are looking into it.”

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal also weighed in during a Parliament session, stating that national interest will remain the bedrock of India’s trade policy, including ongoing talks with the US. 

“The government gives utmost priority to the safeguarding of the welfare of farmers, labourers, entrepreneurs, industrialists, exporters, MSMEs and all stakeholders of the industrial sector,” Goyal said.

Despite escalating rhetoric from Trump, India appears determined to chart its course on trade, energy, and defense -- rooted in sovereign decision-making, not foreign diktats.