Kolkata: India could procure more crude oil from the US as a bargaining tool for a bilateral trade deal with the largest economy of the world but it does not seem likely that New Delhi would turn its back to Moscow as far as purchasing crude from its stable ally is concerned. This is the upshot that seems to be emerging from a flurry of claims and statements centering this vital item of India’s energy security.

US President Donald Trump began the latest churning of the crude oil when he mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him that New Delhi won’t procure crude from Russia, which Trump has been insisting, is an indirect way of funding Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. India has promptly responded with official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal issuing a statement that did not

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