Russian Tankers Anchored Near Jamnagar As India Weighs Crude Oil Strategy Amid US Tariff Threat

New Delhi: At least four Russian tankers have been spotted outside India’s western coast in Jamnagar. The tankers, identified by shipping data used by Reuters, are believed to have been anchored there since Thursday, as local refineries have refused to accept the cargo. Sources say the refineries are awaiting an official directive from the government, which is said to be looking at alternate supplies of crude oil procured from Russia.

A day earlier Reuters had said quoting four sources familiar with the development that state refiners, Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp, and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical Ltd, have not sought Russian crude in the past few days.

While India has continuously maintained its right to buy Russian oil, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Puri pointed out that New Delhi had more than enough alternate oil suppliers. Speaking to a news organisation earlier this week, Puri said: “If something happens, we’ll deal with it. India has diversified its sources of supply — we’ve gone from buying oil from about 27 countries to around 40 now.” Puri’s statement comes as the US continues to pressure India to end its crude oil buying from Russia. A day after President Trump announced 25% tariffs on all Indian exports coming into the US, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said India’s purchases of Russian oil were a “point of irritation” in the India-US ties.

A day after President Trump announced the administration would levy 25% tariffs on all Indian exports coming into the US, Secretary of State Marco Rubio went further, saying India’s purchases of Russian oil were a “point of irritation” in the India-US relationship.

Jammu & Kashmir SDM Rajinder Singh And His Son Die In Reasi Landslide; Wife, Two Others Sustain Injuries

“What you’re seeing the President express is the very clear frustration that with so many other oil vendors available, India continues to buy so much from Russia, which in essence is helping to fund the war effort,” said Rubio, adding that these purchases were helping to fund Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

#WATCH | Delhi | MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Our ties with any country stand on their merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership." pic.twitter.com/FBN67Lnk46

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2025

Though the Trump administration has granted New Delhi a grace period of seven days, saying tariffs would come in by August 7 should there be no deal, some former diplomats have voiced discomfort at Washington’s “bullying tone.”

Officially, though, India has maintained restraint. At the weekly press briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India “had taken note of the sanctions, and we are looking into it. On the other question of proposed oil sales. I have no comment.”

#WATCH | Delhi | On the case of Nimisha Priya, an Indian national facing the death penalty in a murder case in Yemen, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "This is a sensitive matter. The Government of India has been extending all possible assistance in the case. As a result of… pic.twitter.com/wgIPc5hB0m

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2025

Asked whether the US’s move would impact ties between the two nations, the spokesperson said, “This partnership has weathered several transitions and challenges. We remain committed to the substantive agenda that the two countries have committed to and are confident that the relationship will continue to move forward,” said Jaiswal.

No Bilateral Discussions Yet On Ganga Treaty Renewal With Bangladesh: Ministry Of External Affairs

While the anchoring of the four tankers suggests New Delhi may be looking to buy less Russian oil, questions remain regarding the relationship. Will India-Russia ties be affected? Will President Trump still visit India for the Quad Leaders summit meeting scheduled in November? And will India give way on US pressure to buy its military equipment? According to Bloomberg, New Delhi had recently declined a US offer to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets, prioritizing co-development and coproduction of defence equipment under its ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Responding to the questions, the MEA spokesperson stated that India-Russia ties “stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country.” On the Quad summit, he said the “two countries are committed, and we are confident that this relationship will continue to move forward.” He did not mention the US president’s visit.

Trump had received a formal invitation from Prime Minister Modi on June 18 this year. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said the US president was “excited to come to India.”

On the issue of the F-35 jets, Jaiswal referred to a written reply issued by the MEA in Parliament on the same question. “After the Prime Minister’s meeting with US President Donald Trump on 13 February 2025, the India-US Joint Statement stated that the US will review its policy on issuing fifthgeneration fighter aircraft (such as F-35) and undersea systems to India. There has been no formal discussion on this issue yet.”