India, March 12 -- In the shifting landscape of global energy politics, few relationships illustrate policy contradictions as sharply as the United States' stance on India's purchase of Russian oil.

Over the past several years, Washington's messaging has oscillated dramatically-first encouraging India to buy Russian crude to stabilise markets, then imposing punitive tariffs over the same trade, and now again praising New Delhi's role in keeping global oil prices under control during renewed tensions in West Asia.

The latest development came as the conflict in the Middle East threatened to disrupt global energy supplies.

In this volatile context, the United States administration under Donald Trump authorised a temporary waiver allowing ...