'US Encouraged India To Buy Russian Oil': MEA Says Days After Trump Tariffs India

While calling the US and EU targeting India for buying Russian Oil, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a statement calling the tariffs ‘Unjustified’ and ‘Unreasonable’. The Indian government has reiterated its stand to safeguard its national interests and economic security.

While defending its position on buying oil from Russia amid the global market situation, MEA said that India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumers.

In the official statement, India raised concerns of being targeted by the US and EU for importing Russian Oil. Whereas India has clarified its stand that the country bought Russian oil after the US encouragement to stabilize the European energy market.

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“India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. 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”, the MEA said.

Indian government also mentioned the trade ties between US-Russia and EU-Russia.

“The European Union in 2024 had a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia. In addition, it had trade in services estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023. This is significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently. European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5mn tonnes, surpassing the last record of 15.21mn tonnes in 2022”.

“Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment”, it added.

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Mentioning the US-Russian trade products, Indian ministry also highlighted key areas beteen both the countries. “Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals”, MEA mentioned.