UPDATE - In response to US threats of higher tariffs, India says China 'biggest purchaser' of Russian oil

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY JAISHANKAR, ADDS QUOTES

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - In response to the US threats to impose higher tariffs on India, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Thursday that China, not his country, is actually the biggest buyer of Russian oil.

Speaking at a news conference in Moscow following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Jaishankar said his country’s efforts are aimed at stabilizing the global energy markets.

"We are not the biggest purchasers of Russian oil; that is China. We are not the biggest purchasers of Russian LNG; that is the European Union. We are not the country that has the biggest trade surplus with Russia after 2022; I think there are some countries in the South," he said.

The Indian top diplomat emphasized that he is perplexed by the logic of the American government concerning India.

"We are a country where the Americans have said for the last few years that we should do everything to stabilize the world energy market, including buying oil from Russia. Incidentally, they also buy all from the US, and that amount has increased. So honestly, we are very perplexed at the logic of the argument that you had referred to," he stressed.

The US threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on Indian exports like shrimp and basmati rice, as it claims India's digital services tax discriminates against American tech companies. This threat is currently on hold as both countries work on a global OECD agreement to establish a new, fairer international tax system.

On Aug. 7, one day after the US announced tariffs on India for its purchase of Russian fuel, Indian state-owned refineries temporarily paused buying Russian oil. The purchases resumed shortly thereafter, with several state-run companies securing supplies from Russia for delivery in September.

Jaishankar also announced the opening of two new Indian consulates in Russia, in Yekaterinburg and Kazan, urging officials to expedite the process.

"Establishing these consulates will expand interaction between the two countries and contribute to enhancing people-to-people connections," he said.

The Indian minister said he also discussed the fate of Indian soldiers in the Russian army, noting that the majority of them have already returned home, but some remain in Russia.

"We hope that Russia resolves this matter quickly," he said.

Earlier, Indian media reported that nearly two dozen Indian citizens had ended up in combat zones in Ukraine after recruitment by agents promising them highly paid jobs. At least two Indians died in Ukraine.

India's Foreign Affairs Secretary Vinay Kwatra said approximately 30-40 Indians may be serving in Russian forces, with 10 having already returned home.