The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal on Friday responded to reports saying some Indian oil companies have stopped taking oil from Russia amid US President Donald Trump's tariff imposition.
"Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen through the prism of a third country. India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership," stated MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a weekly media briefing.
Jaiswal, however, emphasised that India and the US share a comprehensive global strategic partnership anchored in shared interests, democratic values, and robust people-to-people ties.
The response follows Trump's criticism of New Delhi and Moscow's longstanding relationship, stating they could mutually destroy their struggling economies.
"India's relationship with Russia doesn't concern me. They're welcome to drag each other's failing economies down together," Trump remarked.
The former president claimed America conducts minimal trade with India, attributing this to what he described as India's excessively high tariffs—amongst the world's steepest. He similarly stated that US-Russia commerce is "virtually non-existent." "We should maintain that status quo, and advise Medvedev—Russia's unsuccessful ex-president who deludes himself into thinking he still holds office—to be more careful with his rhetoric. He's treading on perilous ground!" Trump declared.
Responding on Thursday, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal countered by emphasising that India represents the world's fastest-expanding major economy and is positioned to become the globe's third-largest economy in the near future.
Goyal highlighted that global institutions regard India as a beacon of hope in the world economy, accounting for approximately 16 per cent of worldwide economic growth.
