Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, delivered a firm response to Western criticism over India’s continued oil imports from Russia, asserting that “a country can’t just switch off its economy.” In an interview with Times Radio last week, Doraiswami called out the double standards of Western nations, noting that many of India’s European partners continue to buy rare earth materials and energy products from countries they expect India to boycott.
“Don’t you think that seems a little odd?” he asked pointedly.
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, traditionally relied on the Middle East for crude. However, after Russia began offering deep discounts in the wake of Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, India ramped up purchases from Moscow.
Responding to criticism over India’s ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Doraiswami said New Delhi’s relationship with Moscow is rooted in long-standing security cooperation and pragmatic energy needs.
“Some of our Western partners wouldn’t sell us weapons in the past but sold them to our neighbours, who used them against us,” he said, defending India’s strategic choices.
He also pointed out that India’s energy relationship with Russia is not ideological but driven by necessity.
“We’ve been priced out of our traditional energy markets. We import over 80% of our energy. We’re the third-largest energy consumer in the world. What would you have us do, switch off our economy?”
Doraiswami didn’t mince words when questioning the West’s selective outrage.
“We see countries maintaining convenient relationships with nations that are problematic for us. Should we also demand a loyalty test?” he asked.
On the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the envoy reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s consistent message: “This isn’t an era of war.” He emphasized that India wants an end to the conflict, just as it does with all global hostilities.
“We are very keen for this terrible conflict to stop,” Doraiswami concluded.