The Road to Sovereignty Through Self-Reliance
By Sanjeev Oak
Defying American pressure, India has raised its Russian oil imports to nearly two million barrels per day, even as global rating agency S&P Global upgraded India’s credit rating for the first time in 18 years. Both developments underscore New Delhi’s chosen path—self-reliance as the bedrock of sovereignty.
Energy Security Over Sanctions
The United States has repeatedly warned India against importing discounted Russian crude, even threatening tariffs and punitive measures. Yet India has made it clear that energy security cannot be compromised.
According to Kpler, of the 5.2 million barrels of crude imported daily in the first half of August, nearly 38% came from Russia. While July saw imports at 1.6 million barrels per day, August recorded a sharp rise to 2 million. Notably, this surge came despite tariff threats issued by the Trump administration in late July 2025.
“India will not compromise on energy security, irrespective of global pressure.”
At the same time, a quieter yet equally significant development unfolded: S&P Global’s upgrade of India’s credit rating after 18 years. The timing is striking—just when fears were rising that tariffs might weaken India’s export competitiveness, international markets expressed greater confidence in India’s economic fundamentals.
The Hypocrisy of the West
While Washington lectures India against trading with Moscow, it continues expanding its own trade ties with China—the world’s top importer of Russian oil. This selective outrage reflects American double standards.
“The U.S. fulfills its energy needs through Russian-linked imports but pressures others to sever ties.”
India’s response has been firm: it will decide its trade partners based on national interest, not external diktats.
Russian Oil: A Cushion for Growth
Since 2022, discounted Russian oil has shielded India’s economy. It helped keep domestic fuel prices stable, preventing inflation from breaching 7%. Lower import bills reduced dollar demand, keeping the rupee steady.
Indian refiners re-exported processed fuels to Europe and Asia, helping ease the continent’s energy crisis. The benefits cascaded further:
- Cheaper energy reduced input costs for industries such as steel, cement, and chemicals.
- Diesel prices remaining under control protected rural economies.
- Strong domestic demand boosted production and kept India’s growth rate above 7%—among the highest globally.
“Russian oil not only stabilized India’s economy but indirectly cushioned global inflationary pressures.”
India as a Global Growth Engine
According to the World Bank, India will account for 16% of global growth in 2025. The IMF forecasts India to emerge as the world’s third-largest economy by 2030. Importantly, India’s rise does not occur in isolation—it contributes directly to global growth and stability.
This reality unnerves Washington. An economically independent India challenges American hegemony, making it a strategic competitor rather than a pliant partner.
Strategic Autonomy in Foreign Policy
India’s foreign policy today reflects a multipolar vision. While deepening defense and technology ties with the U.S. and Europe, India sustains strategic energy cooperation with Russia, invests in West Asia, and strengthens its role in the Indo-Pacific.
“India is not aligning with one bloc; it is charting its own sovereign path.”
America’s Indo-Pacific strategy needs India to counterbalance China. Yet, by pushing the Russian oil issue, Washington attempts to constrain India’s economic rise. For New Delhi, however, affordable energy remains non-negotiable, especially when confronting security challenges along its border with China.
A Consistent Pattern: Self-Reliance
History offers perspective. After India’s 1974 nuclear test and again in 1998, Western sanctions sought to isolate it. Each time, India turned to self-reliance, eventually gaining global acceptance. Today, the script is similar: external pressure, national resilience, and eventual recognition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s articulation of a “multipolar world” and “Nation First” doctrine has given India clarity in global negotiations. While rooted in the ancient ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), its execution remains firmly grounded in national interest.
Towards Sovereignty
By refusing to buckle under pressure, India signals that it is no longer a junior partner in global affairs. Its ability to balance strategic ties—trading with Russia, negotiating with the U.S., and contributing to global growth—demonstrates a new confidence.
“India will bear pressure from global powers, but it will not surrender its economic sovereignty.”
This is the essence of the new India: a nation that embraces cooperation but rejects coercion, pursues growth but safeguards sovereignty, and builds partnerships but never at the cost of its independence.