Amid rising diplomatic friction between New Delhi and Washington, the Indian Army issued a pointed historical reminder on Tuesday, highlighting past U.S. support for Pakistan during the 1971 war.
In a social media post, the Army shared a 1971 newspaper clipping with the headline, “US ARMS WORTH $2 BILLION SHIPPED TO PAKISTAN SINCE ’54.” The post appeared a day after India firmly rejected criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding its oil trade with Russia.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, accused India of “buying massive amounts of Russian oil” and reselling it for profit, warning of potential new tariffs. He claimed India doesn’t “care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine.”
In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) labeled the criticism from the U.S. and European Union as “unjustified and unreasonable.” The ministry explained that India increased its oil imports from Russia only after its traditional energy supplies were diverted to Europe following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict. The MEA also noted that the U.S. had initially encouraged India’s Russian oil purchases to help stabilize global energy markets.
New Delhi further accused Western nations of hypocrisy, pointing out their own substantial trade with Moscow. The MEA noted that in 2024, the EU’s LNG imports from Russia hit a record 16.5 million tonnes, and its total trade with Russia in 2023 far exceeded India’s. Similarly, the United States continues to import key Russian goods, including uranium hexafluoride, palladium, and fertilizers.
Reaffirming its stance, the MEA declared that India’s energy policies are dictated by market realities and national security. “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the statement concluded.
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