New York [US], September 25 (ANI): United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Wednesday expressed strong admiration for India, saying Washington is keen to expand energy cooperation with New Delhi across natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, clean cooking fuels, and liquid petroleum gas.
“I am a huge fan of India. We love India. We look forward to more energy trade, more interactions back and forth with India,” Wright said while addressing a press conference at the New York Foreign Press Centre.
At the same time, he called on India to reconsider its oil imports from Russia, emphasising that the United States does not intend to punish India but seeks to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“There are lots of oil exporters in the world. India doesn’t need to buy Russian oil. India buys Russian oil because it is cheaper. Nobody wants to buy Russian oil; they have to sell it at a discount. India has decided to make the trade-off to buy cheaper oil and look the other way, which is giving money to a guy who’s murdering thousands of people every week,” Wright told ANI.
He added, “We wish India would work with us to buy oil. You can buy oil from every nation on earth, except Russian oil. That’s our position. America has oil to sell, so does everybody else. We don’t want to punish India. We want to end the war, and we want to grow our relations with India.”
Wright acknowledged the geopolitical challenges India faces, particularly in relation to the war in Ukraine. “India is caught up in the middle of another issue. President Trump’s greatest passion is peace in the world… The Russian war in Ukraine, of course, is brutal. We all want to see it come to an end. But where does the sanctioned Russian oil go? It goes to China, India, and Turkiye, and that helps Russia fund that war. The friction on that issue,” he said.
On engaging with Indian leadership, Wright said he met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the inauguration night and began a dialogue about future cooperation. “I met the Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar on the inauguration night and began a dialogue about cooperation and the future pathway between our countries. Russia trying to find peace in Ukraine is a sticky thing. We are both within the cabinet in the United States and with our allies, trying to find the most creative ways to bring this war to an end,” he said.
Wright stressed that despite differences over Russian oil, Washington remains committed to building stronger ties. “President (Trump) wants nothing more than this war to end, and it would have the additional benefit of removing a source of friction. I am all in on energy and trade cooperation with India. There’s a bright future there, but somehow we have to figure out how to work together to put the maximum pressure to bring the war to an end,” he said.
In August 2025, the Trump administration imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, raising the total tariff burden to 50 per cent, citing India’s continued oil imports from Russia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) criticised the move, calling it “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable”, and reiterated that India’s energy policy is guided by market dynamics and the need to ensure affordable energy access for 1.4 billion citizens.
“The United States has targeted India’s oil imports from Russia. We have already made clear our position… our imports are based on market factors and aimed at ensuring energy security for 1.4 billion Indians,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
Earlier, several US officials took aim at India’s stance. Peter Navarro, Senior Counsellor for Trade and Manufacturing, accused India of profiteering from Russian oil, alleging that India’s tariffs were costing “American jobs.” Navarro has also repeatedly criticised India, calling it a “laundromat for the Kremlin” and, in controversial remarks, alleging that “Brahmins are profiteering” from the conflict.
White House Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett also said that Trump and the trade team were “disappointed” with India’s continued imports of Russian crude oil, but expressed hope for positive developments.
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly described India as America’s “most tariffed partner,” labelling the trade relationship a “totally one-sided disaster.” (ANI)
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