India hits back at Trump’s accusation

India has hit back at criticism by the United States and the European Union for engaging in trade with Russia, stating that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia.

Issuing a statement, the Indian Government said India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. 

In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy market stability, it said. 

India further pointed out that the European Union in 2024 had a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia, and in addition, it had trade in services estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023. 

This is significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently. European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5mn tonnes, surpassing the last record of 15.21mn tonnes in 2022, India further said. 

Stating that Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment, India also revealed that the United States continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers, as well as chemicals.

The Indian Government says that in this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable, adding that, like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security. (Islandnews)