Roving Periscope: Trump “unaware” of US imports from Russia!
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: A day after India exposed the hypocrisy of the US-led West’s ongoing imports from Russia and its attempts to prevent New Delhi from doing the same, President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed he had no knowledge that the United States was also importing Russian products.
His claim came after India revealed that the US continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, fertilizers, as well as chemicals.
Replying to a question about this in a press conference at the White House, Trump said, “I don’t know anything about it. We will have to check.”
Recently, the US President, who imposed 25 percent tariff on imports from India, also threatened to “substantially raise” the import duty on Indian products over its purchase of oil and arms from Russia.
“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!” Trump had said in a post on Truth Social on Monday.
New Delhi strongly rebutted Trump’s claims, with the Ministry of External Affairs calling the targeting of India “unjustified and unreasonable.”
In a detailed response, India said its imports from Russia were based on market needs and domestic energy security, especially after the West diverted traditional supplies to Europe following the Ukraine conflict.
“In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability. India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market situation. However, it is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” the MEA’s statement noted.
The government also pointed to continued trade between Russia and both the United States and the European Union.
“Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers, as well as chemicals. In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the MEA said.
India also noted that the EU’s bilateral trade with Russia in 2024 reached Euro 67.5 billion in goods, along with 16.5 million tonnes of LNG, more than its own trade volume with Russia.
New Delhi said it will take all necessary steps to safeguard its national interests and economic security.
