Kanwal Sibal slams US ‘condescension’ after Bessent calls India an ally on Russian oil

Kanwal Sibal

• Kanwal Sibal criticizes US comments on India's Russian oil buys
• Sibal calls US tone patronising, warns of diplomatic consequences
• US allowed India temporary Russian oil imports to ease supply

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Former Indian foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal has sharply criticised comments by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding India’s purchase of Russian oil, accusing Washington of adopting a patronising tone toward New Delhi.

In a post on X, Sibal questioned Bessent’s description of India as an “ally” of the United States, saying the remark reflected a condescending attitude.

“‘Allies in India’ says Bessent, who has been running us down all these months. Since when have we been ‘allies’?” Sibal wrote.

“ allies in India” says Bessent who has been running us down all these months. Since when have we been “allies”? Patronising still- “ good actors”, “permitted them”. Having to revise their position because rising oil prices affect the American consumer too. Telling us it is… https://t.co/WyxPse8Mfq

— Kanwal Sibal (@KanwalSibal) March 7, 2026

His remarks were in response to a post by Bessent defending US policy on global oil supply. In his post, the US Treasury Secretary said the world remained well supplied with oil due to the energy policies of US President Donald Trump.

Bessent added that India had been a “good actor” and had previously stopped purchasing sanctioned Russian oil. He said Washington had temporarily allowed India to accept Russian oil shipments already at sea in order to ease global supply pressures.

“Our allies in India have been good actors and have previously stopped buying sanctioned Russian oil,” Bessent wrote, adding that the decision was a short-term measure and would not significantly benefit the Russian government.

The US official also said the policy only authorised transactions involving oil that was already stranded at sea and described it as a temporary step to bridge a supply gap.

Sibal, however, criticised both the tone and the substance of the statement, saying such language amounted to talking down to other countries.

“Patronising still — ‘good actors’, ‘permitted them’,” he wrote, arguing that Washington was revising its stance because rising oil prices were affecting American consumers.

“Telling us it is temporary reprieve and that they will revert to strong-arming us. It is like a prisoner on parole,” Sibal added.

He also warned that such rhetoric could damage long-term diplomatic ties. “They should understand that such condescension and talking down to other countries leave long-time diplomatic scars,” Sibal wrote.