'Unjustified, unreasonable': India slams Trump's fresh tariff threat, says US 'actively encouraged' import of Russian oil

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) defended the India’s choice to buy oil from Russia on Monday, amid criticism from the US and the European Union.

According to the MEA, India’s imports from Russia are driven by need and are intended to keep energy costs predictable and affordable for Indian customers.

The MEA branded criticism of India’s trade policies as “unjustified and unreasonable,” and stated that India will take all necessary steps to protect its national interests and economic security.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) explained that India’s crude imports from Russia were caused by interruptions in regular supply lines following the outbreak of the crisis in Ukraine.

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The MEA emphasised that New Delhi’s energy imports are a sovereign decision driven by national interest and market realities.

According to the MEA statement, “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.”

“India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy market stability,” it added.

India became a major buyer of Russian oil, providing a much-needed export market for Moscow after it was cut off from traditional buyers in Europe because of the Ukraine war.

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The MEA further noted that the European Union had a bilateral trade of EUR67.5 billion in goods and EUR17.2 billion in services with Russia in 2023, significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia. The EU’s LNG imports from Russia reached a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024.

Moreover, the US continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its electric vehicle industry, fertilisers, and chemicals from Russia, read MEA release.

India’s energy import strategy prioritises energy security and affordability. The country has diversified its energy imports, increasing reliance on countries like Russia to meet its growing energy demands.

The MEA’s response came after President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, accused India of buying “massive amounts” of Russian oil and reselling it for profit, claiming this undermined efforts to end the Ukraine conflict and, as a result, he would “substantially raise the tariff paid by India to the USA”.

The MEA, in the statement, stressed that these imports are guided by the need to ensure predictable and affordable energy prices for its citizens, while noting that Western nations criticising India are themselves engaged in far larger trade with Russia, despite no such compelling energy insecurity.

“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 statement read.

For now, an existing 10 percent US tariff on Indian products is expected to rise to 25 percent come Thursday.

Last month, the EU and Britain sought to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to halt the war in Ukraine by slashing a price cap meant to choke off revenues from key oil exports.