US Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Wednesday urged India to reconsider its purchase of Russian oil, saying New Delhi has plenty of alternative sources. Speaking to ANI, Wright framed the issue as both a moral and strategic choice, arguing that buying Russian crude indirectly funds atrocities in Ukraine while offering opportunities for deeper energy cooperation between Washington and New Delhi.
“We don’t want to punish India. You can buy oil from every nation on the earth, just not Russian oil. That’s our position. America has oil to sell, so does everybody else,” Wright told ANI.
“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,” he added.
The remarks come amid US tariffs on Indian imports of Russian oil, which now total 50%, following allegations that discounted Russian oil sales help fund Moscow’s military campaign. Wright said he believes India shares the US goal of ending the war and stressed that Washington sees New Delhi as an “awesome ally” and key partner in global energy trade.
Wright highlighted that the US is eager to expand energy cooperation with India across multiple sectors, including natural gas, coal, nuclear, and clean cooking fuels. “I’m a huge fan of India. We love India. We look forward to more energy trade, more interactions back and forth with India,” he said.
Reflecting on his early tenure, Wright noted, “A lot of my early time when I arrived in my position was dealing with India, the world’s largest democracy, an awesome ally of the United States, a fast-growing economy, and a truly dynamic society, which has rapidly growing energy demand as its citizens’ prosperity rises.”
At a press conference at the New York Foreign Press Centre, he again praised India’s role in sustainable energy initiatives. “India has been a star in implementing solutions like natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, and clean cooking fuels,” Wright said.
The secretary underscored that sanctioned Russian oil still reaches countries like China, India, and Turkiye, helping Moscow finance its war. “That’s the friction. We want to bring that war to an end. I believe the Indians want to bring that war to an end,” he added.
India, meanwhile, has maintained that its energy strategy is guided by national interest and market dynamics, turning to discounted Russian oil after Western sanctions restricted supply.
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(With inputs from agencies)