New Delhi, Oct.16,2025:Modi afraid of Trump, declared Rahul Gandhi in a scathing post on X (formerly Twitter), following Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him India would stop purchasing Russian oil. Gandhi accused Modi of outsourcing critical decisions to Trump and ignoring repeated slights. The opposition leader’s remarks stirred new controversy in an already heated debate over India’s energy diplomacy and strategic autonomy-
Trump’s announcement on Russian oil
On October 15, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that PM Modi had given him a personal assurance that India would cease buying oil from Russia. He framed this as a big diplomatic win and a step to apply pressure on Moscow regarding the Ukraine war.
Trump emphasized that the move would not be immediate but would occur “within a short period of time.”
Reuters reported that Trump said, “He assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” positioning the announcement as part of a broader effort to curb Russia’s energy revenues.
However, the Indian government has not confirmed such an assurance. Critics and analysts immediately questioned whether this claim was part of political posturing.
Rahul Gandhi’s blistering post-5 core accusations
In response, Rahul Gandhi posted-
“Prime Minister Modi is frightened of Trump. He allows Trump to decide and announce that India will not buy Russian oil. He keeps sending congratulatory messages despite repeated snubs.”
He further said Modi had-
- Allowed Trump to make the announcement in his name.
- Continued sending congratulatory messages to Trump despite repeated neglect.
- Cancelled the Finance Minister’s visit to the U.S.
- Skipped attending the climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.
- Avoided contradicting Trump on Operation Sindoor. Gandhi also said:
“Modi is outsourcing key decisions to America, his famed ‘56-inch chest’ has shrunk.”
His tone was pointed, bold, and intended to shift the political narrative: rather than debating energy policy, the focus becomes leader inaction and perceived subordination.
India’s official response & strategic posture
In reaction, the government emphasized that energy decisions are guided by India’s own interests, especially those of consumers, not external dictates.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated-
“Our import policies are guided entirely by safeguarding consumer interests in a volatile energy scenario. Ensuring stable prices and supply security are twin goals.”
The government did not explicitly confirm or deny Trump’s reported assurance, choosing rather to lean into strategic ambiguity and highlight India’s history of independent energy policy.
Indian refiners, meanwhile, were reported to be exploring gradual reduction in Russian crude imports under pressure from tariffs imposed by the U.S.
But observers note that rapidly curtailing dependence on Russian oil cannot be done overnight — supply chains, refinery configurations, and alternate sourcing need time.
Energy dynamics, U.S. pressure and Indian autonomy
The U.S. leverage & tariff framing
Earlier in 2025, the Trump administration slapped a 25 % retaliatory tariff on Indian goods, citing India’s continued Russian oil imports. Later, an additional 25 % surcharge was introduced — raising the total to 50 %.
This tariff escalation is widely viewed as a tool to compel India to change its energy sourcing.
Trading analysts say the pressure is real: high tariffs can severely damage India’s export competitiveness.
Russia-India oil trade: deepening ties
Since the Ukraine war, India has sharply increased its buys of discounted Russian crude. Some estimates suggest 30–40 % of India’s oil imports now come from Russia.
Russia and India have also begun negotiating joint ventures to strengthen their energy cooperation.
Indian refineries have gradually adapted to processing heavier and varied crude grades to accommodate Russian oil.
Constraints, risks and strategic sovereignty
Switching away from Russian oil would mean revising contracts, adjusting refinery blends, and paying premiums for alternate crude. These changes risk inflationary pressures.
Import dependence, global price volatility, geopolitics (e.g. Middle East tensions) all constrain India’s freedom to drastically shift overnight.
Hence, while the U.S. pressure is material, India’s strategic calculus balances national interest — energy security, price stability, and autonomy.
Reactions across the political spectrum
- Congress & Opposition: They seized on Gandhi’s framing to challenge Modi’s leadership, arguing the Prime Minister is yielding to foreign demands.
- BJP & ruling camp: Likely to portray this as typical opposition theatrics, and emphasize India makes sovereign decisions.
- Media & analysts: Debate ranges from viewing Trump’s claim as exaggeration to assessing the practical difficulty of halting Russian imports immediately.
- International observers: Many treat Trump’s announcement with caution — noting India has made no formal statement confirming the commitment, and that energy policy shifts take time.
Broader implications for India’s foreign policy
- Strategic autonomy test: India’s response will be closely watched as a measure of whether strategic independence holds under pressure.
- U.S.–India ties: A commitment to curb Russian oil could ease tensions and unlock trade deals, but doing so under duress raises questions about sovereignty.
- Russia partnership: Reducing imports may strain the longstanding India–Russia energy bond, potentially pushing Moscow to seek new partners or leverage.
- Global energy realignments: India’s decision will impact global oil flows, pricing, and the effectiveness of sanctions on Russia.
Will Modi afraid of Trump become a lasting narrative
Rahul Gandhi’s slogan “Modi afraid of Trump” crisply captures his political counterattack against Trump’s claim about Russian oil. Whether it sticks will depend on how India responds — whether it confirms, denies, or acts.
