Tue Aug 05 12:05:33 UTC 2025: **India Accuses West of Hypocrisy Over Russian Oil Trade, Faces Tariff Threats**
**New Delhi, India** – India has strongly countered criticism from the United States and the European Union regarding its purchase of Russian oil, accusing the West of engaging in similar trade with Moscow while imposing sanctions and tariffs on India. The escalation comes as former US President Donald Trump threatened to significantly increase tariffs on Indian goods, citing the country’s continued imports of Russian crude.
Indian officials argue that Western nations, particularly the EU, have imported substantial volumes of goods, including energy, from Russia despite condemning India’s actions. They also claim the U.S. had encouraged India to purchase Russian oil earlier for global energy market stability.
“It is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia,” stated Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
While trade between Europe and Russia has decreased in recent years, the EU continues to import significant amounts of Russian gas and LNG. The US also imports various chemicals, uranium, and palladium from Russia.
The Indian government’s pushback highlights the economic stakes involved. The US is India’s largest export market, and Trump’s tariff threats could significantly impact Indian exports. EU sanctions on refined oil imports from Russian crude could also hurt Indian refineries.
However, India argues that its purchase of discounted Russian oil has helped stabilize global energy markets and saved the country billions of dollars. Some experts believe that the US tariff threats are a bargaining tactic to secure a favorable trade deal with India.
The dispute comes at a sensitive time, with the West seeking to isolate Russia economically over the conflict in Ukraine. India maintains that it is acting in its national interest and accuses the West of applying a double standard.
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