Russian oil dominates, but it is being phased out as India deepens US energy ties

As trade talks between India and the United States progress, the discussion on energy imports has gained renewed attention.

This comes after US President Donald Trump’s claim in which he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him India will stop buying Russian oil “Within a short time.”

Although New Delhi has not confirmed this Ministry of External Affairs Said that protecting consumer interests remains India’s priority.

talking to CNBC-TV 18Experts said India’s energy relationship with both Russia and the US is complex and influenced more by economics than politics.

Sumit Ritolia, principal research analyst for refining, supply and modeling at Kpler, said India’s dependence on Russian crude remains significant. “Russian barrels are at the top of the ladder with about 35 to 40% of total imports,” he said, adding that Indian refiners continue to buy Russian oil because of competitive pricing.

Also, India’s imports from the US are rising, reaching around $8 billion this year and expected to cross $12-13 billion by the end of the year.

However, Ritolia cautioned that there is limited upside to further US crude purchases, with more growth likely to come from LNG and LPG.

Any reduction in Russian oil imports is likely to be gradual and part of a broader trade arrangement, said Prameet Pal Chaudhary, practice head-South Asia, Eurasia Group. “If there is a possibility of phasing out, it will happen after a certain period of time,” he said, emphasizing that economic factors drive India’s decisions more than strategic alignment.

Energy cooperation can play an important role in overcoming the $45 billion trade deficit between India and the US.

Chaudhary also pointed out that India could consider long-term investments in US LNG projects, which could benefit both sides as US LNG capacity expands by 2030.

For the full discussion, watch the attached video