New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India on Monday issued a formal statement in response to renewed tariff threats from former U.S. President Donald Trump, following criticism of India’s ongoing imports of Russian oil amidst the Ukraine conflict.

The MEA clarified that India began importing oil from Russia only after traditional suppliers diverted shipments to Europe once the conflict started, and that these imports ensured predictability and affordability in energy supplies for Indian consumers. The statement pointed out that the United States had initially encouraged India’s Russian oil imports to stabilise global energy markets.

India’s position, according to the MEA, is being unfairly targeted, especially given that countries in the European Union have themselves maintained substantial trade and services ties with Russia. In 2024, the EU’s bilateral trade in goods with Russia amounted to €67.5 billion, and European LNG imports from Russia hit a record 16.5 million tonnes, surpassing the 2022 levels. The United States, the MEA noted, continues to import Russian uranium hexafluoride, palladium, fertilisers, and chemicals, even as it raises objections to India’s transactions.

The MEA’s statement highlighted the broader context that such trade by other nations is not driven by economic compulsion, unlike India’s case, which is necessity-driven for affordable energy. The ministry called the criticism of India’s trade policy “unjustified and unreasonable,” and affirmed that the country would do everything necessary to safeguard its economic interests.

The statement comes in direct response to Donald Trump’s announcement earlier in the day that the United States would “substantially” raise tariffs on Indian goods due to its purchases of Russian oil. Trump accused India of buying “massive amounts of Russian oil” and reselling it for profit, and said he would impose higher tariffs on Indian goods entering the U.S. market, without specifying the exact rates or measures.