India lashed out at the United States and the European Union this week, accusing both of hypocrisy over their criticism of New Delhi's Russian oil imports, as President Donald Trump escalated his threats to impose steep new tariffs on Indian goods. The clash risks further straining economic ties between two key geopolitical partners amid a growing global energy realignment.
India's Foreign Ministry issued a pointed statement Monday night, saying "it is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia." The ministry cited EU imports of 16.5 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas from Russia in 2024 and continued U.S. imports of Russian uranium, palladium, fertilizers, and chemicals. "It is unjustified to single out India," the statement read.
Trump earlier in the day vowed to "substantially raise" tariffs on Indian exports and floated unspecified penalties tied to its continued purchases of Russian crude. On July 31, the president announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods and criticized India for allegedly reselling discounted Russian oil for profit.
Data from India's embassy in Moscow showed bilateral trade between the two countries surged to $68.7 billion for the fiscal year ending March 2025, nearly six times the $10.1 billion pre-pandemic total. India's oil imports from Russia averaged about 1.75 million barrels per day between January and June, up 1% year-over-year, with Russia now the country's top crude supplier.
The Modi government said its imports are driven by national energy security, not politics. India purchased Russian oil as "we wanted somebody to buy Russian oil," former U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti was quoted as saying in a 2023 conference. Energy Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said last month that Washington had privately encouraged India to continue buying Russian oil within price cap limits to stabilize global markets.
"The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability," India's foreign ministry reiterated Monday.
EU trade with Russia in 2024 totaled €67.5 billion ($78.1 billion), significantly exceeding India's total trade volume with Moscow. India emphasized that unlike Western nations, its reliance on Russian commodities stems from necessity. "Such trade is not even a vital national compulsion [for them]," the ministry stated.
Trade experts warned of economic fallout from Trump's tariff moves. Ajay Srivastava of the Global Trade Research Initiative projected a 30% decline in Indian exports to the U.S. this fiscal year, dropping to $60.6 billion from $86.5 billion in 2025. India's equity benchmarks dipped in response to the heightened trade tension.
Indian political leaders from across the spectrum condemned Trump's comments. "The time has come to call out this constant bullying and hectoring," Congress Party MP Manish Tewari said. BJP Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda quoted former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on social media, writing: "To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal."
India also pointed out that while U.S. trade with Russia fell to $5.2 billion in 2024 from $36 billion in 2021, Washington has not imposed reciprocal tariffs on Russian imports. "In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable," the foreign ministry said. "India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security."
