India Dismisses Twin Sanction Threats From US, NATO On Buying Russian Oil

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON D.C.– The United States is intensifying pressure on nations maintaining trade ties with Russia, issuing direct warnings that carry potential for broad economic ripple effects. India, however, firmly reiterates its sovereign right to ensure its energy security and urges caution against the application of “double standards” in international policy.

On July 16, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, during a meeting with senators in the US Congress in Washington, delivered a stark warning. He stated that countries such as Brazil, China, and India could be “hit very hard by secondary sanctions” if they continue business with Russia. Rutte pressed these nations to contact Russian President Vladimir Putin, advocating for serious peace talks to avert what he termed “massive repercussions.” These comments echoed recent threats by US President Donald Trump, who on July 14 announced new weapons for Ukraine and vowed 100 percent tariffs on any country purchasing Russian exports, unless a peace deal is finalized within 50 days.

While these American warnings are primarily directed at national governments, the threat of widespread “secondary sanctions,” or tariffs, on all merchandise exports from countries trading with Russia carries significant implications. The proposed 100% tariffs by the US President would encompass entire nations, potentially impacting India’s trade surplus with the United States and disrupting various key sectors.

Despite these escalating American warnings, a complex situation exists. Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air indicates that European and NATO members remain substantial purchasers of Russian energy exports. Since 2022, the EU has been the largest buyer of Russian liquefied natural gas and pipeline gas, and Turkey, a NATO member, has emerged as the largest buyer of Russian oil products. Even the EU has only proposed to phase out Russian oil and natural gas imports by 2027 and January 2028, respectively. This continued European engagement provides context for India’s concern over “double standards.”

Responding to this international pressure, India’s Ministry of External Affairs today explicitly cautioned against such “double standards.” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, at the weekly media briefing in Delhi, asserted, “Securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us. In this endeavour, we are guided by what is on offer in the markets and by prevailing global circumstances.”

Concurrently, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri robustly defended India’s energy policy. Speaking at the Urja Varta 2025 event in New Delhi, Puri expressed confidence in India’s ability to navigate any potential supply disruptions. “I’m not worried at all. If something happens, we’ll deal with it,” he stated, emphasizing India’s proactive diversification of oil sources from approximately 27 countries in 2007 to 40 nations currently. Puri also affirmed that the global market remains well-supplied.

Minister Puri further highlighted that India’s substantial purchases of Russian crude, which have surged from a mere 0.2 percent before the Russia-Ukraine conflict to nearly 40 percent today, have played a vital role in stabilizing global oil prices. He argued that crude oil prices could have skyrocketed to $130 per barrel had Russian supplies, accounting for about 10 percent of global supply, vanished from the market. Puri also clarified that Russian crude has consistently been under a price cap of $60 per barrel, but never under sanctions, and India remains firm on its policy of not buying crude oil from a country under sanctions. “Some statements are made to ensure two disputants settle an issue,” Puri concluded, downplaying the immediate concern over these threats. (With IANS inputs)