In response to remarks made by Washington on the surveillance of India’s crude imports from Russia, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that purchases of Russian oil are not covered under the trade agreement between the US and India.
MEA to Clarify US Stance on Russian Oil Purchases
Goyal said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), under the direction of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, should provide any clarity regarding the US stance. “The foreign office is best suited to respond to this subject, as I am unsure of their specific meaning or whether any negotiations have taken place,” he stated.
The comments follow the US lifting a 25% tax on Indian shipments and saying it will monitor India’s future purchases of Russian oil. US officials claim that India’s reduction in Russian oil imports made the most recent trade agreement possible, which is consistent with Washington’s attempts to reduce Russia’s income in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine.
Decline in Russian Oil Shipments to India
Russian crude shipments to India dropped to about 1.12 million barrels per day, the lowest level since November 2022, from 1.2 million barrels per day in December, according to data gathered by Bloomberg using vessel-tracking data.
📊 Russian Oil & India-US Trade
- Russian Oil Imports: 1.12 million barrels/day (lowest since Nov 2022)
- Previous Month: 1.2 million barrels/day
- US Monitoring: Future imports of Russian oil under watch
- Trade Deal Context: Russian oil not included in India-US trade agreement
- Officials: Piyush Goyal, MEA, Washington
Increase in US Oil Imports to India
At the same time, India’s oil imports from the US increased significantly, reaching $569.3 million in December 2025, a 31% year-over-year increase.
🌐 India’s Energy Diversification Plan
- MEA Statement: February 5, 2026
- Goal: Diversify energy imports for 1.4 billion population
- New Sources: Exploring commercial feasibility including Venezuela
- Strategic Aim: Ensure consistent energy supply
The MEA reaffirmed on February 5 that, as part of its larger plan to diversify energy imports and guarantee consistent supplies for its 1.4 billion-person population, India is still willing to assess the commercial feasibility of new oil supply sources, including Venezuela.
