New Delhi: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has openly questioned what he termed as Western “double standards” in the enforcement of sanctions against Russia, asking why India was being singled out over its oil trade while European countries appeared to have secured quiet exemptions.
The pointed remarks came during a discussion between Goyal and Douglas Alexander, the UK Trade Minister, where the two compared sanctions linked to Rosneft, the Russian state-owned oil giant. Goyal’s comments came after the British minister acknowledged that London and Berlin had resolved their energy supply issues with Washington’s approval, prompting the Indian minister to ask, “So then why single out India?”
A video of the exchange has since gone viral on social media, drawing praise from users who commended Goyal for his firm stance and for directly confronting the UK minister on the issue.
Alexander, appearing momentarily caught off guard, clarified that the concern “was about a specific subsidiary in relation to Rosneft” but quickly added, “Come and talk to us. My door is always open,” signalling a willingness to discuss India’s position further. Goyal, however, continued to press the point, highlighting that India also hosts subsidiaries of Rosneft, underscoring the inconsistency in how Western sanctions were being applied.
The exchange has reignited the debate over what Indian officials and analysts often describe as Western hypocrisy, where allies in Europe are given greater leeway under US and EU sanctions regimes, while countries like India are subjected to diplomatic pressure. New Delhi has consistently defended its decision to purchase Russian oil on economic and strategic grounds, asserting that its actions comply with international law.
The confrontation came just days after the United States announced fresh sanctions against Russian oil majors Rosneft Oil Company and Lukoil OAO, citing Moscow’s “lack of serious commitment” to ending the war in Ukraine. Following the announcement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that both India and China had begun scaling back imports of Russian oil at the request of US President Donald Trump.
India currently faces 50 per cent tariffs imposed by the US, half of which are reportedly linked to its continued oil trade with Russia.
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