India’s Ministry of External Affairs has defended its continued import of Russian crude oil, describing it as a matter of national economic necessity and rejecting criticism from Western countries as selective and politically motivated, in an official statement issued on August 4.
“The focus on India appears deliberate,” the statement read. “India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union.”
The ministry stressed that India’s total trade with Russia remains modest in comparison to that of Western powers.
“In 2024, the European Union recorded bilateral trade in goods with Russia worth €67.5 billion ($73.4 billion), while services trade in 2023 amounted to €17.2 billion ($18.7 billion). This is significantly higher than the total value of India’s trade with Russia for the same period,” it noted.
The ministry also highlighted that the United States continues to maintain several categories of imports from Russia despite its public stance on sanctions.
“Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its electric vehicle industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals,” the statement said.
According to India, these imports reflect an ongoing commercial relationship that undercuts the narrative of a complete economic decoupling from Moscow. The ministry cited this as further evidence of what it considers a double standard in Western criticism.
“India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the ministry concluded.
Earlier, it was reported that India may enhance its oil and gas imports from the United States, even while maintaining its status as the country’s largest buyer of discounted Russian crude.
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