New Delhi [India], August 4 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday firmly defended India’s oil imports from Russia, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats as “unjustified and unreasonable.” The ministry emphasized that India’s decisions on energy procurement are driven by national interest and market realities.
In a detailed statement, the MEA explained that India’s imports from Russia were a response to global energy supply disruptions following the Ukraine conflict and were crucial for maintaining affordable and stable energy costs for Indian consumers.
“The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the MEA said.
India began sourcing more oil from Russia after Western sanctions redirected traditional supplies to Europe, the ministry noted. It added that the U.S. had, at the time, even encouraged India to step up purchases to stabilize the global energy market.
“The United States and the European Union have criticized India for buying oil from Russia. But it must be noted that India only began doing so after traditional suppliers shifted their exports to Europe,” the MEA said.
Highlighting the double standards, the ministry pointed out that the European Union’s trade with Russia far exceeds India’s. In 2023, the EU recorded EUR 67.5 billion in goods trade and EUR 17.2 billion in services with Russia. Moreover, the EU imported a record 16.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia in 2024.
The MEA also underscored that the United States continues to import critical materials from Russia, including uranium hexafluoride for nuclear energy, palladium for electric vehicles, and fertilizers and chemicals for industrial use.
India’s energy strategy, the MEA clarified, focuses on ensuring affordable, secure, and diversified access to energy, with imports from Russia playing a necessary role in this framework.
The ministry’s response followed President Trump’s remarks on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he accused India of buying “massive amounts” of Russian oil and reselling it on the open market for profit. Trump also announced plans to “substantially raise” the tariff paid by India to the United States as a result.
The MEA pushed back strongly, stating that India does not export crude oil but rather refined petroleum products like diesel and jet fuel, in line with global trade practices. It stressed that India’s imports are shaped by necessity, unlike the more discretionary trade that the West continues to conduct with Russia.
“India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by the global market situation. However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” the MEA statement concluded. (ANI)
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