Venezuela, Iran, Russia — India has historically complied with Trump on cutting oil imports
India has historically adjusted its oil import sources to comply with U.S. sanctions, though it maintains a policy of strategic energy independence. The government is currently navigating potential U.S. tariffs on Russian oil imports.
Why it matters
The tension between India's energy security needs and U.S. foreign policy sanctions highlights the complexities of global energy geopolitics.
Over the last decade or so, India has complied with U.S. pressure to reduce oil imports from countries it has sought to isolate, such as Venezuela, Iran, and Russia, even though they were important sources for India. Once the U.S. pressure has eased, official data show that India has almost immediately turned back to these sources of oil.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday (September 18, 2026) issued a strong statement asserting India’s strategic independence on energy against the backdrop of the proposed U.S. Bill that could see tariffs of up to 100% being levied on India as a penalty for its imports of Russian oil.
“As stated on several earlier occasions, India remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people,” the statement said. “It will continue to do so through diversified sourcing and based on evolving market dynamics.”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in