Overview
- Michael Rubin told ANI that Washington is hypocritical for lecturing India on discounted Russian oil while the U.S. also conducts trade with Russia.
- He said the U.S. should either offer India cheaper fuel in sufficient quantities or, in his words, "shut up," because New Delhi must prioritize its security.
- Rubin argued that India's choices reflect its energy needs as a fast-growing nation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mandate to advance Indian interests.
- He attributed the closer India–Russia alignment to President Donald Trump's policies, calling the outcome "gross incompetence" even as he said Trump "deserves a Nobel Prize" for bringing the two together.
- During the New Delhi visit, Vladimir Putin pledged uninterrupted fuel shipments to India and the two sides signaled plans to expand economic and transport cooperation through 2030.