US says India won’t buy Russian oil; Venezuelan talks in focus
US says India won’t buy Russian oil; Venezuelan talks in focus
US envoy reaffirms India’s stance against Russian oil as negotiations for Venezuelan supply gain momentum and a tentative trade deal nears completion.
New Delhi — US ambassador to India Sergio Gor reiterated Washington’s position that New Delhi should not purchase Russian oil as President Trump presses to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Gor said India is diversifying its oil sourcing and that the US and India are in active negotiations to facilitate the procurement of Venezuelan oil, with an interim trade deal “very soon” after a few tweaking points are resolved. The comments come as both sides work toward concrete steps on energy ties amid broader strategic discussions on shared interests in the region.
The Indian foreign ministry later framed the energy conversation as one driven by national interest, noting that actual sourcing is decided by oil companies after assessing cost, market conditions, availability and risk. The stance aligns with India’s long-standing approach of balancing access, price, and supply security while maintaining its own domestic energy strategy.
The remarks were made on the sidelines of the Global AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, where India also joined the Pax Silica declaration in a sign of growing tech-diplomacy ties with the United States. In parallel, Washington has been signaling a desire for a faster resolution to oil supply diversification, including a tariff adjustment that previously cut India’s duties from 50% to 18%, a move welcomed by many industry observers as part of a broader strategic recalibration.
Industry observers say the emerging dialogue on Venezuelan oil could help India broaden its sourcing options beyond Russia even as costs and logistics are weighed. As New Delhi navigates these shifts, the core message remains: India will pursue energy ties that serve its national interests, while staying responsive to global market conditions and geopolitical realities.
