Tensions between Washington and New Delhi have resurfaced following sharp criticism from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil, and a fresh wave of economic penalties imposed by the United States. At the heart of the controversy is India’s refusal to bow to Western pressure to reduce energy ties with Russia-a decision driven by economic necessity but increasingly viewed in Washington as undermining its strategic alignment with the West.

In an interview with Fox Radio on July 31, Rubio acknowledged India as a strategic partner but described its ongoing oil trade with Russia as a “point of irritation.” “India has huge energy needs… and it buys [oil] from Russia because Russian oil is sanctioned and cheap,” Rubio said. “Unfortunately, that is helping to sustain the Russian war effort.”

While stressing the complexity of foreign policy, Rubio underscored that alignment in such matters is rarely absolute. However, his remarks revealed the growing frustration within Washington over New Delhi’s insistence on pursuing independent foreign and energy policies-particularly when they appear to diverge from Western objectives in the Ukraine conflict.

The comments from Rubio mark a continuation of Washington’s balancing act with India: recognizing its value as a counterweight to China in Asia while increasingly clashing with it over economic policies and international alignments. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, India has significantly ramped up imports of discounted Russian crude, now accounting........

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