The Congress has strongly criticised the US government's temporary waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil, raising concerns about continued 'American blackmail' and its impact on India's energy policy.
Key Points
- Congress party criticises the US for granting a temporary waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil.
- Jairam Ramesh questions the duration of what he calls 'American blackmail' in relation to the US waiver.
- The US issued a 30-day waiver amid escalating conflict with Iran to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil.
- The US Treasury Secretary stated the waiver is a short-term measure and expects India to increase purchases of US oil.
The Congress on Friday took a swipe at the Modi government after the United States announced a temporary waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil, and asked till when will this "American blackmail" continue.
In a post in rhyming in Hindi on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Trump ka naya khel, Dilli dost ko kaha, Putin se le sakte ho tel, kab tak chalega ye Ameriki blackmail (Trump's new game; told his friend in Delhi you can get oil from Putin; how long will this American blackmail continue?).
US issues 30-day Russian oil waiver
Amid the escalating conflict with Iran, the US said it is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver on Russian oil purchases.
"President Trump's energy agenda has resulted in oil and gas production reaching the highest levels ever recorded. To enable oil to keep flowing into the global market, the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday.
Bessent said this "deliberately short-term measure" will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government, as it only authorises transactions involving oil already stranded at sea.
"India is an essential partner of the United States, and we fully anticipate that New Delhi will ramp up purchases of US oil. This stop-gap measure will alleviate pressure caused by Iran's attempt to take global energy hostage," Bessent said in a post on X.
Trump's tariff over Russian oil purchase
US President Donald Trump had imposed 25 per cent punitive tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, with the administration asserting that Delhi's purchases were helping fuel Russia's war against Ukraine.
Last month, the US and India announced they had reached a framework for an Interim Agreement on trade, and Trump issued an Executive Order removing the 25 per cent punitive tariffs on India, noting the commitment by New Delhi to stop importing energy from Moscow and increase purchasing American energy products.
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