MEA rejects reports of US waiver for Russian LNG
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday dismissed as “speculative” and “ill-informed” media reports claiming that India had approached the US for a sanctions waiver to resume liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Russia.
Responding to queries, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the reports lacked factual basis and cautioned against drawing conclusions from unverified information.
“We have seen some speculation on this matter. These reports are really ill-informed when it comes to the facts of this particular matter. These are speculation and we would caution against such reports,” he said.
The remarks come amid reports suggesting that India and Russia had reached a verbal understanding to restart direct LNG trade for the first time since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. According to these reports, New Delhi was said to have sought a sanctions waiver from Washington to facilitate the deal, citing disruptions in Gulf energy supplies.
The speculation also linked the purported move to ongoing instability in West Asia, particularly concerns over supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz, where heightened tensions and infrastructure risks have rattled global energy markets.
While India has consistently maintained that its energy sourcing decisions are guided by national interest and market dynamics, the government has not indicated any shift in policy regarding LNG imports from Russia under existing Western sanctions frameworks.
The MEA’s denial signals New Delhi’s attempt to contain diplomatic sensitivities around energy ties with Moscow, even as global supply uncertainties continue to test the country’s energy security calculus.
Earlier this month, the US had granted India a temporary 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to continue purchasing Russian crude oil that is currently stranded at sea. The decision was aimed at preventing disruption in global energy markets while the region grapples with heightened conflict and supply uncertainties.
