India slams western double standards on energy trade
(MENAFN) India has voiced strong objections to what it sees as Western double standards in global energy trade, following recent US and EU measures targeting the Russian energy sector. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar raised the issue during the 20th East Asia Summit in Malaysia, highlighting concerns over “the reliability of supply chains and access to markets.”
“Energy trade is increasingly constricted, with resulting market distortions. Principles are applied selectively and what is preached is not necessarily practiced,” Jaishankar said, pointing to inconsistencies in how sanctions are applied.
The comments came after new US sanctions targeted Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, key crude suppliers to India. Earlier, Washington had imposed a 25% punitive tariff on India, along with a 25% reciprocal tariff on its exports, citing New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil and military equipment. US officials have accused India of indirectly supporting the conflict in Ukraine—a claim firmly rejected by Indian authorities.
Indian officials have repeatedly questioned Western pressure over Russian oil imports, noting that European countries and China continue energy trade with Russia without similar penalties. US measures, in particular, have not imposed comparable tariffs on these nations, despite their ongoing purchases.
US President Donald Trump recently stated that India had assured a reduction in Russian oil imports. Ahead of the summit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that India had expressed “interest in diversifying its oil imports.”
While New Delhi has yet to issue an official response to the latest sanctions on Russian oil firms, it has emphasized that its energy policy is guided by “national interest” and that it “does not subscribe to any unilateral sanction measures.” Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal further criticized the selective application of US sanctions, noting that countries such as Germany and the UK received exemptions while India was “singled out.” He added that India, in ongoing trade negotiations with Washington and Brussels, will not be pressured into agreements through coercion.
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