Goa, July 17 -- India has strongly pushed back against recent remarks by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who warned that countries like India, China, and Brazil could face harsh secondary sanctions for maintaining commercial ties with Russia-especially in the energy sector. The warning, delivered during meetings in Washington, drew a sharp response from New Delhi, highlighting the growing tensions between national interest and Western geopolitical pressures.

At a press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that energy security remains India's top priority. "Securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority," he said, adding a pointed caution against "double ...