India’s foreign ministry on Monday accused the United States and the European Union of “targeting” it over its purchase of Russian oil, maintaining it will continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests.
In recent weeks, the E.U., Britain, and the U.S. have sought to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to halt the Russia-Ukraine conflict, now in its third year. The E.U. and Britain last month slashed a price cap aimed at choking off revenues from Moscow’s oil exports. U.S. President Donald Trump has similarly sought a halt on the purchase of Russian oil. On Monday, he posted on his TruthSocial platform accusing India of “buying massive amounts of Russian oil” and selling it for “big profits.” To halt this practice, he said, he would be “substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the USA.”
Last week, Trump announced India would face a 25% tariff on its exports to the U.S. as the two countries failed to achieve a trade deal.
In its statement, the Indian External Affairs Ministry noted Delhi had started importing oil from Russia as “traditional supplies” were diverted to Europe after the conflict began. “The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability,” it said, maintaining the imports were aimed at ensuring “predictable and affordable energy costs” for Indian consumers.
“It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” it continued.
The Indian statement noted the E.U. maintained a bilateral trade of €67.5 billion in goods with Russia in 2024, significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia. “European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5 million tons, surpassing the last record of 15.21 million tons in 2022,” it added. Trade between Russia and Europe, it said, also included fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron, steel and machinery and transport equipment.
On the U.S., India noted, Washington was importing uranium hexafluoride from Russia for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers and chemicals.
“The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable,” stressed the statement. “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” it added.