The United States has urged India to buy Russian oil that is already floating at sea and redirect those cargoes to Indian refineries in order to “tamp down” fears of supply shortages and rising prices amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said.
However, Wright emphasised that the move is a temporary and pragmatic step aimed at stabilising the global oil market and does not represent any shift in Washington’s policy toward Russia.
In an interview with CNN on Sunday (March 8, 2026), Wright said he and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had spoken to Indian authorities about purchasing Russian crude shipments that are currently waiting to be unloaded at Chinese refineries.
“India has been a great partner through this. I did call up the Indians, as did Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and said there’s a whole bunch of oil floating waiting to unload at Chinese refineries,” Wright said.
“Instead of having it wait six weeks to unload there, let’s just pull that oil forward, have it land in Indian refineries and tamp this fear of shortage of oil, tamp the price spikes and the concerns we see in the marketplace.”
He added that US policy toward Russia has not changed and that India is fully aware of Washington’s position.
Responding to a question about whether the Treasury Department’s 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil during the ongoing US –Israel conflict with Iran undermined the Trump administration’s goal of isolating Moscow, Wright said it did not.
“It is not. It’s just a pragmatic effort that has a short time span. No change in policy toward Russia,” he said.
Wright also said India has largely displaced Russian oil imports and is increasing purchases from the United States, Venezuela and other suppliers.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz defended the decision as a temporary and practical step.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
