Ashish Ranjan
Karen Donfried, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, stated on Wednesday that the US is not considering penalising India for its purchase of Russian oil.
She stated that the relationship with India is of the utmost importance, and while the United States and India may have different policy approaches, they both share a commitment to defend the international order and respect territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, Geoffery Pyatt, adding that the US was “comfortable” with India’s policy to the purchase of Russian oil, but “we respect the dialogue that we continue to have on the matter.”
In addition, he stated that energy security has been a constant topic of bilateral negotiations recently.The senior US diplomats defended the price cap set on Russian oil and stated that it provided an opportunity for India to negotiate a better price, despite not being a participant.
John Kirby, a spokesperson for the US National Security Council, stated in December that the price cap “would lock in the discount on Russian oil,” allowing countries such as China and India to negotiate for dramatic price reductions.
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The purpose of the price ceiling was to reduce the revenues of Russia, which are fueling the conflict in Ukraine, and US diplomats have indicated that they feel the sanctions are having the desired effect.In recent months, India has increased its purchases of inexpensive Russian oil, which it refines into fuel for Europe and the United States. It is not regarded that fuel refined in India is of Russian origin.
Bloomberg reported that India exported over 89,000 barrels per day of gasoline and diesel to New York last month, the biggest in nearly four years, according to data intelligence firm Kpler. Bloomberg reported that daily low-sulfur diesel exports to Europe reached 172,000 barrels in January, the highest level since October 2021.
