<p>India has done well to reject NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s warning that countries such as India, China, and Brazil could face secondary sanctions if they continued doing business with Russia. </p>.<p>The warning exposes the West’s duplicity in its engagement with the Global South. Europe has continued to import refined Russian crude through third countries, including India and Turkey, and shadow fleets, but wants other countries to abide by its sanctions against Russia. </p>.<p>According to a report, India had become the European Union’s largest source of oil products by 2024. Europe also imported large quantities of LNG from Russia last year. Rutte has said that the punitive sanctions would push Russia towards ending the Ukraine war. The EU has already imposed sanctions on an oil refinery in Vadinar in Gujarat, which is part-owned by the Russian oil giant Rosneft. India has told the EU that its national interests, and not pressure from any side, would guide its decisions. If energy security is important for Europe, it is important for India too.</p>.<p>The EU’s warning coincides with moves by the US to pressure other countries into avoiding economic deals with Russia. A new bill by Senator Lindsey Graham – backed by President Trump and over 170 lawmakers – proposes a 500 per cent tariff on nations buying Russian goods, including oil, gas, and uranium. </p>.<p>India imports nearly 88 per cent of its oil, about 40 per cent of it from Russia. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has conveyed New Delhi’s concerns about its legitimate energy needs to Senator Graham.</p>.<p>President Trump has also said that the US would impose 100 per cent tariffs targeting Russia’s trade partners if a peace deal with Ukraine did not happen in 50 days. The impact of sanctions on any country has been debatable. Russia, like Iran, has faced severe sanctions, though for different reasons. The economies of both countries have been hit, but the sanctions have not achieved their intended results. The sanctions proposed by the US could adversely affect its trade deal with China and the deal being worked out with India. </p>.<p>Diversification of trade is a part of the strategic autonomy that India has pursued in its external relations. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that India has other sources for its crude even if the sanctions threat becomes real. India may have to pay a price for its trade ties with Russia. But it cannot be expected to surrender its interests and dignity in the face of threats.</p>
<p>India has done well to reject NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s warning that countries such as India, China, and Brazil could face secondary sanctions if they continued doing business with Russia. </p>.<p>The warning exposes the West’s duplicity in its engagement with the Global South. Europe has continued to import refined Russian crude through third countries, including India and Turkey, and shadow fleets, but wants other countries to abide by its sanctions against Russia. </p>.<p>According to a report, India had become the European Union’s largest source of oil products by 2024. Europe also imported large quantities of LNG from Russia last year. Rutte has said that the punitive sanctions would push Russia towards ending the Ukraine war. The EU has already imposed sanctions on an oil refinery in Vadinar in Gujarat, which is part-owned by the Russian oil giant Rosneft. India has told the EU that its national interests, and not pressure from any side, would guide its decisions. If energy security is important for Europe, it is important for India too.</p>.<p>The EU’s warning coincides with moves by the US to pressure other countries into avoiding economic deals with Russia. A new bill by Senator Lindsey Graham – backed by President Trump and over 170 lawmakers – proposes a 500 per cent tariff on nations buying Russian goods, including oil, gas, and uranium. </p>.<p>India imports nearly 88 per cent of its oil, about 40 per cent of it from Russia. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has conveyed New Delhi’s concerns about its legitimate energy needs to Senator Graham.</p>.<p>President Trump has also said that the US would impose 100 per cent tariffs targeting Russia’s trade partners if a peace deal with Ukraine did not happen in 50 days. The impact of sanctions on any country has been debatable. Russia, like Iran, has faced severe sanctions, though for different reasons. The economies of both countries have been hit, but the sanctions have not achieved their intended results. The sanctions proposed by the US could adversely affect its trade deal with China and the deal being worked out with India. </p>.<p>Diversification of trade is a part of the strategic autonomy that India has pursued in its external relations. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that India has other sources for its crude even if the sanctions threat becomes real. India may have to pay a price for its trade ties with Russia. But it cannot be expected to surrender its interests and dignity in the face of threats.</p>
