Bangladesh, Nov. 17 -- India has once again demonstrated that its energy policy is guided by national interests rather than geopolitical pressure. New Delhi remained the second-largest buyer of Russian crude oil in October-behind only China-despite intensifying US sanctions on Rosneft, Lukoil, and even Indian imports. The latest data from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) underscores a consistent trend: Indias reliance on discounted Russian oil has become firmly embedded in its energy security calculus, and Washingtons punitive measures have failed to deter it.

At the heart of this dynamic is an increasingly complex geopolitical chessboard. The US, seeking to pressure Moscow into winding down its military campaign in...