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India’s Ambassador Vinay Kwatra discussed energy security and trade with US Senator Lindsey Graham, who warned of tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, including India.
It is noteworthy that Graham was one of the Senators who had issued warnings to countries doing business with Russia (File)
India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, held a conversation with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham on Saturday and shared New Delhi’s perspective on energy security and national interests.
Kwatra also said that he held a discussion with Graham on increasing energy trade with Washington.
“Spoke to Senator @LindseyGrahamSC and shared with him the Indian perspective on our energy security, including increasing energy trade with the United States,” the Indian envoy said in a post on X.
Spoke to Senator @LindseyGrahamSC and shared with him the Indian perspective on our energy security including increasing energy trade with the United States.— Amb Vinay Mohan Kwatra (@AmbVMKwatra) August 9, 2025
It is noteworthy that Graham was one of the Senators who had issued warnings to countries doing business with Russia that US President Donald Trump would impose massive tariffs on their goods.
In an interview with Fox News, the US senator had said, “Trump is going to impose tariffs on people that buy Russian oil—China, India, and Brazil,” arguing that the countries were helping fund the war in Ukraine as they accounted for around 80 per cent of Russia’s crude exports.
“If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we will tariff the hell out of you. And we’re going to crush your economy, because what you are doing is blood money,” he added.
His warning had come weeks before Trump’s 25% reciprocal tariff announcement for India. The US President intensified his tirade against New Delhi later, with an additional 25% tariff announcement for buying Russian oil. While the reciprocal tariffs have come into force, the additional duties will take effect starting August 27.
Meanwhile, India has defended its energy strategy, saying that its crude oil purchases from Russia are “a necessity compelled by global market conditions” and not a political endorsement of Moscow.
It further asserted that the country will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.
“India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the statement said, underlining the country’s commitment to stable and affordable energy access for its citizens.
The MEA termed the levies as “unjustified and unreasonable” and called out the double standards of the United States and the European Union over their trade ties with Russia. The statement highlighted that the US continues to import uranium hexafluoride from Russia for its nuclear industry.
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
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