The United States White House has stated it “temporarily permitted” India to accept Russian oil shipments that were already at sea, describing India as a “good actor” The statement was made in the context of global supply disruptions linked to tensions with Iran The remarks have ignited a political controversy in India, with the opposition Congress party describing the statement as a “capitulation certificate” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government
These developments come as India’s government seeks to reassure the public about its energy stability. The petroleum and natural gas ministry stated that the country’s crude oil and gas supplies remain secure despite ongoing conflict in West Asia Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma urged against panic buying, noting that domestic LPG production has increased by 25% to prioritise household consumers However, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the country's energy security has been compromised by a “flawed foreign policy” and warned that immediate preparations were needed to avert a crisis
The situation is underscored by heightened geopolitical risks in the Middle East. India’s Ministry of External Affairs recently expressed concern after an India-bound cargo ship was attacked by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about 20% of global oil supplies In Washington, US President Donald Trump said that stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons was more important to him than rising global oil prices
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