US Policy Shift: From Encouraging Russian Oil Purchases to Imposing Tariffs on India

The United States has imposed tariffs on India and threatened further measures due to India's continued purchase of oil from Russia. New Delhi has strongly opposed these threats, asserting its commitment to maintaining cooperation with Russia in its own interests. Amidst this, a past comment from former US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, has resurfaced, contradicting the current stance. In a viral video, Garcetti acknowledged that Washington had previously encouraged India to buy Russian oil at a specific price point to stabilize global prices. Garcetti made these remarks during a 2024 conference on international affairs. The context of this historical perspective now raises questions regarding the shift in American policy. Despite US pressure, India has shown no signs of reducing its cooperation with Russia and has responded firmly to the threats.