Is Targeting India Over Russian Oil Purchases Justified?

New Delhi, Aug 4 (NationPress) The Indian government has asserted that the US's criticism regarding India's acquisition of oil from Russia is both unjustified and unreasonable. This statement follows a warning from US President Donald Trump about imposing heavy tariffs on India. An official statement from the government emphasized that, similar to other major economies, India will implement necessary actions to protect its national interests and economic security.

Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, the government noted that India has been unfairly targeted by the US and the EU for its oil imports from Russia.

“In fact, the decision to import from Russia was made after traditional oil supplies were redirected to Europe due to the conflict. At that time, the United States had encouraged India to strengthen the stability of global energy markets,” the Centre highlighted.

“These imports are essential for providing predictable and affordable energy to Indian consumers. They are driven by the global market situation. It is notable that the countries criticizing India continue to engage in trade with Russia, which is not a pressing national necessity for them,” the government pointed out.

This response comes after Trump’s remarks on social media, where he claimed, "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil; they are also selling it on the open market for significant profits, disregarding the situation in Ukraine."

He added, "Due to this, I will significantly increase the tariffs imposed on India to the USA.”

The Indian government revealed that the EU had a bilateral trade volume of €67.5 billion with Russia in 2024, along with an estimated €17.2 billion in services trade in 2023.

“This figure is considerably higher than India's total trade with Russia in recent years. European imports of LNG reached a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024, surpassing the previous record of 15.21 million tonnes in 2022. The EU's trade with Russia encompasses not only energy but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel, as well as machinery and transport equipment,” the statement said.

The government further remarked that the US continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear sector, palladium for electric vehicles, fertilizers, and chemicals from Russia.

“In this context, 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 government reiterated.