July 17, 2025 | New Delhi : India has strongly reacted to recent comments made by NATO chief Mark Rutte, who warned that countries like India, Brazil, and China could face secondary sanctions for continuing trade with Russia. The Indian government called out what it sees as "double standards" and defended its position on energy trade.

Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is closely monitoring the developments. “Securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us,” he stated.

Jaiswal emphasized that India makes decisions based on global market conditions and current international situations. “We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter,” he said, highlighting the fact that while NATO members criticize others for trading with Russia, some of them continue to import large amounts of Russian energy themselves.

Mark Rutte made his remarks during a meeting with U.S. senators earlier this week. He urged leaders of Brazil, China, and India to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into starting serious peace talks. Rutte warned that if they don’t act, these countries could suffer harsh economic consequences, especially from new U.S. secondary sanctions.

Rutte’s statement follows an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has promised new military support for Ukraine and proposed 100% tariffs on countries buying Russian goods unless peace is reached within 50 days.

However, India's response has pointed out the inconsistencies in the global approach. According to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, the European Union (EU) has been the largest buyer of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pipeline gas since 2022. Additionally, Turkey, a NATO member, has remained the top importer of Russian oil products.

While the EU has plans to stop buying Russian oil by 2027 and natural gas by early 2028, current trade figures tell a different story. India feels that criticism directed at it and other countries should be fair and balanced, especially when Western nations are still doing business with Russia themselves.

India's Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, also weighed in. He said India is well-prepared to handle any potential disruptions caused by sanctions. “I'm not worried at all. If something happens, we'll deal with it,” he said.

Puri highlighted India’s efforts to diversify its oil imports. “We have gone from buying oil from about 27 countries to now about 40 countries. So we have plenty of options,” he added, as reported by Reuters.

India continues to stress that its energy decisions are made in the best interest of its citizens and economy, and it expects equal treatment in global diplomacy.