India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has rejected the reason cited by the United States for hiking tariffs on Indian exports. Speaking alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Jaishankar said he was “perplexed” at the logic behind the punitive trade measures.
“We are not the largest buyer of Russian oil; that is China. Nor are we the biggest in LNG imports, that’s the European Union,” Jaishankar said at a joint press briefing. “In fact, our energy trade decisions have been consistent with our national interest and in line with global energy market stabilisation efforts, including recommendations from the U.S. itself.”
Energy Sovereign Decision
Jaishankar reiterated that India’s oil imports from Russia are a sovereign decision, driven by affordability, accessibility and economic stability. “We also purchase significant quantities of oil from the United States. So, we’re quite puzzled by the rationale used to justify these high tariffs,” he said.
His comments came amid escalating trade tensions with the U.S., where the Trump administration recently announced tariff hikes of up to 50% on Indian goods, citing increased trade with Russia and alleged profiteering from discounted Russian crude.
Expanding India-Russia Trade
Beyond energy, the bilateral agenda between India and Russia was extensive. Jaishankar met Lavrov and Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov to review trade, connectivity, defence cooperation and multilateral engagement.
Highlighting the need to balance growing trade, Jaishankar underlined increasing Indian exports in areas such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture and textiles while also addressing non-tariff barriers and regulatory issues.
Both countries discussed ensuring a steady supply of fertilisers, which remains critical for India’s agricultural sector. “This is a priority area and we are taking steps to secure long-term arrangements,” he said.
The minister said Indian skilled workers, especially in IT, engineering and construction, can bridge Russia’s labour demands.
Indians In Russian Army
The minister also raised the issue of Indians serving in the Russian Army, some of whom were reportedly misled into joining or have gone missing. “While several have been released, a few cases remain unresolved. We expect the Russian side to expedite these matters,” he said.
Strategic And Defence Ties
Reaffirming the depth of India-Russia ties, Jaishankar called the relationship one of the “steadiest major partnerships since World War II.” Defence cooperation, including technology transfers and joint production under the ‘Make in India’ framework, remains a cornerstone of bilateral engagement.
He also advocated fast-tracking the opening of new Indian consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg to enhance regional cooperation and support growing Indian commercial and diaspora interests in Russia.
Connectivity And Multilateral Cooperation
Both sides discussed advancing connectivity through initiatives such as the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime route and cooperation on the Northern Sea Route, aimed at cutting transit times and enhancing trade across Eurasia.
On the global stage, India and Russia reaffirmed shared goals including reform of the UN Security Council and deeper collaboration within G20, BRICS, and SCO. Jaishankar stressed India’s commitment to zero tolerance on terrorism, and its belief in dialogue and diplomacy to resolve global conflicts.
