White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced on Tuesday that conversations have begun with India and other allies regarding the implementation of a restriction on gas purchases from Russia.
Mr. Sullivan intimated to reporters aboard Air Force One that US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may also undertake direct discussions on this matter.
“We have begun discussions with India about how a price ceiling would operate and its ramifications,” he said. “Then, if required, it can be promoted” to the level of leadership, he continued.
The US media reported this week that India’s crude oil imports from Russia have increased by a factor of 50 since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
In May, Indian refineries purchased over 25 million barrels of Russian crude oil, increasing imports from Russia to 10% of total sea-bound imports from 0.2% in 2021 and early 2022.
In April, President Joe Biden informed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that increasing India’s energy imports from Russia was not in India’s best interest. Monday, Mr. Sullivan spoke by phone with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, according to a statement from the White House in Washington. The White House stated that “Mr. Sullivan underlined President Biden’s commitment to a robust and lasting US-India strategic cooperation based on our common commitment to democracy.”
They highlighted the necessity of sustaining close cooperation in the Indo-Pacific area, supporting regional security, and restarting efforts to engage on global concerns like as Covid-19 and climate change,” the statement stated, omitting any mention of oil consultations.
However, during a press conference aboard the US presidential plane en route to Madrid, Spain, a reporter asked if the oil issue was also discussed at the G-7 meeting in Schloss Elmau on Monday. In response, he stated that ministers of the G-7 nations have been tasked by their leaders to work out the specifics of how a price cap would function.
“One component of this is, of course, intensive interaction with major consumer nations. India is among these nations. This interaction has started,” he continued. We have begun discussions with India on how a price ceiling would operate and its ramifications.
Asked if President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Modi about this problem, particularly yesterday, Mr. Sullivan responded, “The President did not speak with Prime Minister Modi about this yesterday, but we had conversations with the Indians yesterday at the highest levels of the US government.”
Indicating that President Biden and Mr. Modi may soon debate the subject, he stated, “Before it goes to leader-to-leader level, we need to hammer out the details with their team at the current Cabinet level.”
