'People first': India's envoy to US strikes defiant note as Trump's 100% tariffs loom

India’s Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra has defended New Delhi’s energy sourcing policy after the US House of Representatives passed legislation that gives US president Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries continuing to buy Russian oil and gas, including India and China. The bill was approved 262-159 after clearing the Senate last month and now goes to Trump for signature.In an X thread titled “People First: What Drives India’s Energy Imperative”, Kwatra said India’s energy choices were driven by development and energy security.“Energy is a vital strategic necessity for 1.4 billion Indians and a foundation of our development….India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy and its third-largest energy consumer. Yet the average Indian consumes less than one-third of the global average and one-tenth of average American.