 "‘A great partner’: Sergio Gor says India’s Russian oil purchase helps keep prices stable")
After granting a 30-day waiver to buy Russian oil, US envoy Sergio Gor on Wednesday hailed India as a “great partner” and pitched the purchase of Russian oil as a tactic to stabilise the market — a far cry from a few months back when top US officials condemned India for funding the Russian war machine.
In a post on X, Gor said that India has been a great partner in maintaining stable oil prices around the world and the administration recognises ongoing purchases of Russian oil are a part of this effort.
Last week, Trump granted India a temporary waiver to buy Russian oil to enable oil to keep flowing into the global market amid the ongoing war in West Asia — oil prices have risen to their highest levels in four years as oil and gas producers have cut prices and Strait of Hormuz has been choked.
“This stop-gap measure will alleviate pressure caused by Iran’s attempt to take global energy hostage,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at the time.
India has been a great partner in maintaining stable oil prices around the world. The United States recognizes ongoing purchases of Russian oil are a part of this effort. India is one of the largest consumers and refiners of oil and it is essential for the United States and India…
— Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) March 11, 2026
Even though Gor has now praised India, Trump previously raised tariffs on India to 50 per cent over the purchase of Russian oil. Peter Navarro, his economic adviser, accused India of funding the Russian war machine, Bessent slammed India for profiteering from the war, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called India’s actions unacceptable.
‘India has been a good actor’
Gor’s statement came shortly after the White House described India as a “good actor” that “previously stopped buying sanctioned Russian oil”.
Trump “permitted” India to buy Russian oil that was already on the sea as a short-term measure, White House Press Secretary Karolina Leavitt said.
As per Kpler, however, India’s purchase of Russian oil remained largely consistent over the months — see the graphic below.
Even though Trump has now granted India a 30-day waiver, India has never sought it and maintained it would secure energy suppliers from wherever it would get the best deal — irrespective of the American position in the matter.
Even as Trump had slapped India with 50 per cent tariffs —the highest in the world— over the purchase of Russian oil, India continued to buy Russian oil and maintained India’s energy requirements guided fuel purchases, not the position of any foreign government.
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