US defends 30-day waiver allowing India to buy Russian oil

The waiver comes after tensions between the US and India over Russian oil purchases. Earlier, the US administration under President Donald Trump had imposed 25 per cent punitive tariffs on India, accusing New Delhi of helping finance Russia’s war in Ukraine through large-scale oil imports

The United States has defended its decision to grant India a temporary 30-day waiver to purchase Russian oil, saying the move was taken to maintain global energy supplies amid the ongoing West Asia conflict involving Iran.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision was made because India has been a responsible partner and had earlier reduced its purchases of sanctioned Russian oil. She described India as a “good actor” and said the waiver was a short-term step to stabilise the global oil market.

Speaking at a press briefing, Leavitt said the US administration temporarily allowed India to accept Russian oil shipments that were already at sea. According to her, the measure was necessary to bridge a temporary supply gap created by tensions in the region.

She also clarified that the waiver would not provide any major financial benefit to the Russian government because it only applies to oil that had already been loaded and shipped before the decision.

The announcement, however, triggered political criticism in India. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the remarks, saying the statement amounted to a “capitulation certificate” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He argued that such comments from US officials suggested political endorsement rather than a balanced diplomatic position.

Amid the controversy, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor defended the move and highlighted India’s role in maintaining stability in global energy markets. In a message posted on social media, he said India remains an important partner for the United States and plays a key role as one of the world’s largest oil consumers and refiners.

He added that cooperation between the two countries is essential to ensure stable oil prices for both American and Indian consumers. Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said the waiver was part of a broader effort to ensure uninterrupted oil supply in global markets. He explained that the measure was deliberately limited to 30 days and was designed only to allow Indian refiners to process Russian oil that was already stranded at sea.

Bessent also expressed confidence that India would gradually increase imports of American oil as part of ongoing energy cooperation between the two countries.

The waiver comes after tensions between the US and India over Russian oil purchases. Earlier, the US administration under President Donald Trump had imposed 25 per cent punitive tariffs on India, accusing New Delhi of helping finance Russia’s war in Ukraine through large-scale oil imports.

However, the two countries later worked toward an interim trade framework, after which the tariffs were removed following India’s commitment to reduce direct or indirect imports of Russian energy and expand purchases from the United States.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the temporary arrangement would help ease fears of supply shortages and prevent sudden spikes in oil prices during the current West Asia crisis. He emphasised that the US policy towards Russia remains unchanged and that the waiver is only a short-term, practical step to stabilise the global energy market.