What India Said On Reuters’ Report On ‘Diversion Of Indian Defence Exports To Ukraine’
In response to a Reuters report suggesting that Indian defence exports have been diverted to Ukraine, India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the claims as “speculative and misleading.” Official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal firmly denied the allegations, stating, “It implies violations by India, where none exist and, hence, is inaccurate and mischievous.”
He also added that India has an impeccable track record of compliance with international obligations on the export of military and dual use items.
“India has been carrying out its defence exports taking into account its international obligations on non-proliferation and based on its own robust legal and regulatory framework, which includes a holistic assessment of relevant criteria, including end user obligations and certifications,” he said.
The Reuters report had claimed that artillery shells sold by Indian arms manufacturers had been redirected by European customers to Ukraine to support its defence against Russia. The article further alleged that India did not intervene, despite Russian protests. Eleven officials from both Indian and European governments, as well as a Reuters analysis of customs data, supported the claims, revealing that the diversion had been ongoing for over a year.
While India’s export regulations restrict the transfer of munitions beyond the declared purchaser, the report cited European nations such as Italy and the Czech Republic as facilitators of these arms reaching Ukraine. Russia reportedly raised concerns about these transfers on at least two occasions, including a discussion between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and India’s External Affairs Minister in July.
Despite the claims, Indian sources indicated that India produced only a small amount of the munitions used by Ukraine, representing less than 1% of its imported arms. Furthermore, officials indicated that India was aware of the situation but had taken no action to halt the supply of arms to European nations.
Neither the Russian nor Indian foreign and defence ministries responded to Reuters’ questions, while defence ministries of Ukraine, Italy, Spain, and the Czech Republic also remained silent.
