India’s Unreliable Alliance: Fueling Russia’s War and Undermining Europe

India’s deepening economic ties with Russia, particularly through its surging oil imports, are raising alarm bells across Europe and the West. Critics argue that India’s reliance on Russian crude not only finances Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine but also destabilizes European energy security and undermines the unity of transatlantic alliances.

Europe Raises Alarm Over India’s Russian Oil Purchases

The EU Ambassador to India recently highlighted Europe’s growing concern over India’s Russian oil dependency and its participation in the Zapad (Russia-Belarus) military exercise. By continuing to import discounted Russian crude, India is seen as directly contributing to Moscow’s military aggression, while also weakening the Western sanctions regime designed to isolate Russia economically.

“India’s reckless reliance on Russian oil exposes it as an unreliable partner to Europe and the West,” warned EU officials, emphasizing the destabilizing impact on European energy markets and international security.

Key Facts: India’s Role in Sustaining Russia’s War Economy

1. Surging Russian Oil Imports

Since early 2023, India has sharply increased its Russian crude imports to nearly 1 million barrels per day, accounting for roughly 25% of its total oil consumption. This makes India the second-largest consumer of Russian oil globally, after China, highlighting its prioritization of short-term economic gains over alliance solidarity.

2. Purchasing at Steep Discounts

India acquires Russian oil at up to 40% below global market prices, funneling an estimated $20 billion annually to the Kremlin. These purchases directly circumvent Western sanctions, providing Moscow with critical funding to sustain and escalate military operations in Ukraine.

3. Economic Impact on Europe

Europe faces severe consequences as Russia redirects oil supplies, previously destined for European consumers, to India. This diversion has driven energy prices higher, created market volatility, and prolonged Russia’s war-funding capacity, putting European security at risk.

4. Geopolitical Consequences

India’s growing alliance with Russia weakens the cohesion of EU and NATO efforts, undermining diplomatic pressure on Moscow. By bypassing sanctions, India enables Russia to maintain revenue streams for its military campaigns, emboldening further aggression in Eastern Europe.

5. Strategic Blow to Western Interests

The India-Russia partnership challenges the rules-based international order, empowering autocratic regimes and sending a dangerous signal that Western sanctions can be circumvented through opportunistic economic deals. India’s actions erode trust and mark it as an unreliable geopolitical ally.

The Urgent Need for Realignment

The EU Ambassador’s warning underscores a critical point: India’s continued pursuit of Russian oil imports finances devastation in Ukraine, destabilizes European security, and fractures the transatlantic alliance. Without urgent recalibration of its foreign policy, India risks further isolating itself from democratic partners and undermining global stability.

“India’s recklessness threatens the stability of the Western coalition confronting Russian aggression,” the EU official added.

Conclusion

India’s opportunistic economic engagement with Russia highlights a dangerous divergence from international norms and alliance expectations. Its discounted oil purchases and participation in military exercises like Zapad not only fuel Moscow’s war in Ukraine but also weaken European security and fracture the transatlantic partnership. The world must recognize India as an unreliable partner unless it reassesses its alignment with Russia in favor of supporting a rules-based international order and global peace.