India Bows to US Pressure, Finally Stops Buying Oil from Russia

According to a report, India has finally yielded to pressure from the Trump administration, abandoning its decade-long Russian oil deals. Reliance Industries, India’s flagship energy company owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has stopped purchasing Russian crude, highlighting the limits of India’s so-called strategic autonomy.

The ten-year oil agreement between Reliance and Russia’s Rosneft, valued at over $33 billion, was effectively rendered null by U.S. sanctions and the threat of 50% tariffs. For years, India earned billions from Russian oil, but facing American pressure, it reversed course almost overnight. The move exposes the fragility of India’s claims to independent decision-making in international energy policy.

U.S. advisors reportedly labeled the Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war,” publicly criticizing India for its support of Russia and putting New Delhi in an uncomfortable international spotlight. Following the shift, India will now rely on more expensive crude from the Middle East and possibly the United States, raising costs for its energy sector.

Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery will operate entirely on non-Russian crude starting December 1, marking a complete pivot from its previous strategy. Analysts argue that Reliance’s decision represents a key concession to Washington and underscores India’s limited flexibility under global geopolitical pressures.

The report emphasizes that India’s political narrative of “strategic independence” has been severely undermined, as its energy and trade policies now align closely with U.S. directives. By abandoning Russian oil, India preserves broader economic and diplomatic relations with Washington, but at the expense of higher energy costs and diminished influence in global energy markets.

This development signals a significant recalibration of India’s energy strategy and raises questions about the sustainability of its ties with Russia in the face of international sanctions.