India Stands Firm on EU Oil Sanctions: Energy Security Takes Center Stage
India has drawn international attention for its daring and uncompromising stand against the European Union’s most recent sanctions on Russian oil, putting its energy security first. Prior to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri criticized Western double standards in the global energy market on July 22, 2025, by emphasizing that India’s energy needs are non-negotiable. This bold reaction to the EU’s 18th sanctions package, which targets Russia’s oil trade and an Indian refinery, highlights New Delhi’s dedication to the welfare of its people, according to the Times of India and Hindustan Times. However, what does this signify for India’s economy and its intricate global balancing act?
By reducing the oil price cap from $60 to $47.6 per barrel and prohibiting refined petroleum products made from Russian crude in third countries like India, the EU’s sanctions, which were announced on July 18, 2025, are intended to stifle Russia’s war revenues. This directly affects Rosneft, a Russian company that owns a portion of Nayara Energy’s Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, which processes 20 million tonnes a year and exports to Europe. India’s $15 billion fuel exports to the EU are in jeopardy, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), as they have already dropped 27.1% from $19.2 billion in FY24 to $15 billion in FY25. The fact that India imported $50.3 billion worth of crude oil from Russia in FY25—more than a third of its $143.1 billion total—shows how dependent it is on cheap Russian oil.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has echoed Misri’s remarks, which reject unilateral sanctions and demand consistent energy trade standards. “We will do what we need to do to provide energy security for the people of India,” he said, criticizing the EU for imposing sanctions on some while indirectly importing Russian oil products. When Russian crude made up less than 2% of the mix, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri reiterated this, pointing out that India has a varied supply from 40 countries and is ready to resume pre-2022 import patterns if needed. Rosneft, which holds 49.13% of Nayara, criticized the sanctions as “illegal” and destabilizing, according to India Today.
India is under pressure from the US and the EU as the EU targets Russia’s shadow fleet and restricts banking, and President Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Russian oil buyers. However, even though refiners like Nayara and Reliance Industries run the risk of losing European markets, the lower price cap might help India by securing cheaper crude. Will sanctions affect India’s energy strategy or will it be able to walk this geopolitical tightrope? As India asserts its sovereignty in this high-stakes energy showdown, the entire world is watching.
