The European Union’s recent decision to impose sanctions on India’s Nayara Energy, a key Indian refinery company with ties to Russian oil giant Rosneft, while simultaneously continuing to import Russian oil itself, lays bare a stark hypocrisy in its sanctions policy.
As an Indian citizen, I find this move not only inconsistent but also an affront to India’s sovereign right to secure its energy needs. India, a nation of over 1.4 billion people and a rapidly growing economy, relies on imports for 85% of its oil needs. Energy security is not a luxury but a necessity to power industries, stabilize prices, and ensure the well-being of its citizens. India is not alone in this approach. Nations like China and Brazil have similarly ramped up Russian oil purchases, recognizing the economic advantages in a turbulent market. To single out India, then, is not only unfair but also ignores the shared global imperative of energy stability.
The EU’s sanctions on Nayara Energy reveal a troubling inconsistency. While targeting an Indian company refining Russian crude for domestic use and non-EU export, the EU continues to rely on Russian energy to avoid economic disruption at home.
Our External Affairs Ministry has rightly called out this duplicity: “There should be no double standards, especially when it comes to energy trade.” The EU’s actions appear less about principle and more about political posturing, disproportionately burdening nations like India while shielding its own interests. The advantages of India’s approach extend beyond its borders, offering a buffer against energy shortages for other nations navigating the same global market. The EU must abandon its double-faced policy and respect India’s right to secure its future. As an Indian citizen, I stand firm: India will not compromise its energy needs for the sake of Western geopolitical games. Its an independent country which will take the decision independently for the intrest of their citizens.
