MEA Rebukes NATO's Sanctions Threat To India, Cites Energy Security Priorities

India firmly responded to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s warning about secondary sanctions over continued trade with Russia, reported The Indian Express.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasised that securing India’s energy needs remains a top priority.

“Securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, cautioning against any “double standards”.

Rutte had earlier warned that leaders of India, China, and Brazil could face harsh secondary sanctions if they continued buying Russian oil.

“If you are the President of China, the Prime Minister of India, or the President of Brazil… I will impose 100 per cent secondary sanctions,” he said.

He urged these leaders to press Russian President Vladimir Putin to pursue peace talks.

“So please make the phone call to Vladimir Putin and tell him that he has to get serious about peace talks,” Rutte said.

On Thursday, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said he felt “no pressure” over Russian oil imports.

“India has diversified the sources of supply… There is sufficient supply available,” he said at the UrjaVarta 2025 event.

India has expanded its crude sourcing from 27 to 40 countries.

India currently imports about 88 per cent of its crude needs, with Russia supplying nearly 40 per cent.

Although Russia’s share was under 2 per cent before the Ukraine war, it rose after Western nations shunned Russian oil, prompting Moscow to offer discounts.

Puri maintained that India could quickly replace Russian volumes if necessary.

New Delhi continues engaging with US lawmakers and the Trump administration to address concerns.

While US tariffs remain uncertain, any such move could force India to return to costlier imports from West Asian countries.

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