Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal raised concerns over Western countries’ sanctions on Russian oil, asking why India is being singled out while European nations seem to get quiet exemptions.
The discussion happened between Goyal and Douglas Alexander, a UK trade minister, focusing on sanctions against Rosneft, a Russian state-owned oil company.
Goyal said, “So why single out India?” He pointed out that countries like the UK and Germany had already sorted their energy supply issues with the US’s approval.
The UK minister explained that the issue was about a specific Rosneft subsidiary, and invited India to discuss concerns, saying, “My door is always open.” But Goyal pressed further, noting that India also has Rosneft subsidiaries, showing inconsistency in how sanctions are applied.
This exchange highlighted what many are calling “Western double standards”: European allies often get flexibility under US and EU sanctions, while countries like India face pressure to follow the rules strictly.
India has defended its purchase of Russian oil, saying it’s for economic reasons and follows international law.
The US recently announced sanctions on Russia’s major oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, citing Russia’s lack of commitment to peace in Ukraine. Following this, the US claimed India and China have started reducing their Russian oil imports at the request of US President Donald Trump.
Currently, India is also facing 50% tariffs from the US, partly as a punishment for buying Russian oil.
