Russia has firmly supported India’s right to pursue independent trade policies, just a day after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to “substantially” raise tariffs on New Delhi over its purchase of Russian oil.
“We believe that sovereign countries must have and do have the right to choose their trade partners,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He underscored that nations should be free to determine the economic arrangements that best serve their interests, pointedly referring to Washington’s warnings against India.
Trump’s remarks on Monday accused India of “buying massive amounts of Russian oil” and reselling it “for big profits,” vowing to impose higher tariffs as punishment.
India Pushes Back, Calls Out ‘Double Standards’
In an unusually sharp response, India firmly rejected the criticism and accused both the U.S. and the European Union of hypocrisy.
“Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, pointing out that Washington and Brussels continue their own commerce with Moscow.
The MEA detailed ongoing Europe-Russia trade in energy, fertilizers, mining products, and machinery, while highlighting U.S. imports of uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for electric vehicles, fertilizers, and chemicals.
“In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable,” the statement concluded. “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
Moscow Sees ‘Neocolonial’ Pressure from Washington
Russia’s support went beyond simple endorsement. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Washington of pursuing a “neocolonial policy” against nations in the Global South.
“Sanctions and restrictions are a regrettable reality of today’s historical stage, which affects the entire world,” Zakharova said.
“Washington cannot come to terms with the loss of hegemony in the emerging multipolar world order,” she added, criticizing the U.S. for using “politicized levers of economic pressure” against countries unwilling to align with its agenda.
A Wider Geopolitical Strain
This exchange captures a larger shift: the contest between an American-led economic order and a more multipolar, interest-driven world. India’s stance is emblematic of this change—balancing ties with Washington while deepening its energy and defense links with Moscow.
Trump’s earlier decision to impose 25% tariffs on Indian goods and levy penalties over Russian crude and military purchases further complicates the equation. Yet, for India, these moves underscore a simple reality: in an era of great-power competition, national interest often trumps alignment.
As the global order fractures into competing spheres, India—and countries like it—are asserting their autonomy, refusing to be forced into exclusive blocs. The coming months will reveal whether this tightrope diplomacy can withstand the economic pressures now being deployed.
