The North News
New Delhi, August 4
India has criticised the United States and the European Union for what it described as double standards over its energy trade with Russia, accusing Western powers of selectively targeting New Delhi while continuing their own economic ties with Moscow.
In a sharply worded statement on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs said India had been “unfairly singled out” by Washington and Brussels for importing Russian oil after the Ukraine conflict began, even though Western nations had increased their own purchases of Russian goods and energy.
India’s decision to increase oil imports from Russia was a response to a shifting global energy landscape, the ministry said, explaining that “traditional suppliers had diverted their shipments to Europe” in the wake of the war. The statement also noted that at the time, the US “actively encouraged” India to continue these imports to help stabilise global markets.
India defended its purchases as a matter of “predictable and affordable energy” for its domestic consumers, describing them as a “necessity compelled by the global market situation.” It went on to highlight what it called the “hypocrisy” of its critics.
“In 2024, the EU’s bilateral trade in goods with Russia stood at €67.5bn, with services adding another €17.2bn,” the statement read. It also pointed out that European LNG imports from Russia hit a record 16.5 million tonnes this year, surpassing previous highs.
Trade between the EU and Russia covers a wide range of sectors, including energy, fertilisers, mining products, chemicals, steel, and machinery, the ministry said.
The US, meanwhile, continues to import Russian uranium for its nuclear power industry, as well as palladium for electric vehicles, and a range of fertilisers and chemicals.
“In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable,” the ministry asserted. “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary steps to protect its national interests and economic security.”
The statement is the latest in a series of diplomatic pushbacks from New Delhi over international scrutiny of its relationship with Moscow. India has repeatedly maintained that its energy policy is guided by domestic priorities and market realities.
