MEA’s statement indicates India’s change in tack to tackle Trump’s threats—US tariffs, sanctions over Russian oil
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he “doesn’t know anything” about America importing fertilisers and chemicals from Russia.
He was responding to India’s accusation of “double standards” over Washington’s criticism of New Delhi’s Russian oil trade.
The remarks came during a press conference at the White House when he was asked about India’s statement on the US buying Russian uranium and fertilisers while criticising them for buying Russian energy. “I don’t know anything about it. We will have to check,” he was quoted as saying.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) hit back after Trump threatened to “substantially raise” the tariffs on Indian exports to the US over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil. The MEA said the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable and questioned Washington and the European Union for their duplicity in their stance. India’s oil imports are guided by national interests and energy security considerations, the MEA said, rejecting “unjustified and unreasonable” pressure from Western powers.
Russia also on Tuesday stated that such threats against Moscow are illegal. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters “trying to force countries to stop trading with Russia is illegal.”
Analysts say MEA’s latest statement indicates a change in tack to face US tariffs, sanctions over Russian oil. Measures that New Delhi may consider are trade agreements with ASEAN and others, restarting oil imports from Iran and Venezuela
Trump claimed that India has been buying “massive amounts” of Russian oil and selling it on the open market for “big profits”.
“Clearly India has done being patient and tolerant, as far as Trump is concerned. India not only exposed the West’s double-standards, but also conveyed its desire to pursue an independent foreign police, basically telling India that it is not not bothered by tariffs and threats,” they add.
