India also offered hard numbers to underscore the double standards. The European Union in 2024 had a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia. In addition, it had trade in services estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023. This is significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently. European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5mn tonnes, surpassing the last record of 15.21mn tonnes in 2022.Furthermore, the EU’s trade with Russia isn’t limited to energy. Fertilizers, chemicals, mining products, iron, steel, and machinery continue to move freely, even as European leaders criticize others for engaging with Moscow.The U.S. is no exception either. It continues to import Russian uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its electric vehicle sector, and various fertilizers and chemicals vital to its industrial base.“The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable,” said Jaiswal. “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” he added.
Source link
