India on Monday pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s threat to “substantially” raise tariffs on Indian goods over its continued oil imports from Russia, calling the targeting of India “unjustified and unreasonable.”

In a sharply worded statement, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) defended India’s energy strategy, saying that its crude oil purchases from Russia are “a necessity compelled by global market conditions” and not a political endorsement of Moscow.

“India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the MEA said in a statement, while pointing out that the US and European Union have themselves continued trade with Russia, including in energy and critical commodities, despite publicly opposing the Ukraine conflict.

The response came hours after Trump accused India of “buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling it on the open market for big profits,” and vowed to penalize New Delhi by raising tariffs. The US President had earlier signed an executive order on August 1 titled 'Further modifying the reciprocal tariff rates', slapping a 25% duty on Indian goods.