India and Russia Strengthen Trade Ties Amid US Pressure

India and Russia agreed to boost trade despite US tariffs on Indian purchases of Russian oil. Foreign ministers met in Moscow, expressing a commitment to ongoing energy cooperation and enhancing Indian exports to Russia. Both countries remain key buyers of Russian oil amid Western sanctions.

India and Russia have pledged to strengthen trade relations, shrugging off the potential impact of US President Donald Trump's tariffs on Indian imports of Russian oil. Meeting in Moscow, the foreign ministers of the two nations signaled a commitment to deepening commercial ties despite external pressures.

Indian imports face some of the highest US tariffs due to New Delhi's increased Russian oil purchases. Western nations, boycotting Russian crude, criticize these purchases as aiding Moscow's conflict in Ukraine. However, India maintains that its transactions are purely business-oriented, criticizing the US and EU for their own ongoing trade with Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov highlighted successful energy cooperation and the potential for expanded joint projects, while Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar reiterated the historic stability of Indo-Russian relations. Both nations aim to address trade imbalances by boosting Indian exports in vital sectors.