Trump's fury at India leaves Albanese in a tight spot

The Age

12 hours ago

Australia is facing a tough choice about whether to line up with Donald Trump on a global flashpoint – but this time the argument is not about trade, Gaza or defence spending.
The argument is about Russian oil worth about $10 billion, and how Australia buys it from India.
The US president is punishing India with steep tariffs because he blames the country for making big profits from Russian oil. India has hit back, saying it will safeguard its national interest against his 'unjustified and unreasonable' claims.
The dispute is creating a huge gulf between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after the two had claimed to be great friends. The leaders are also meant to be partners in the Quad group with Australia and Japan, so the rift erodes a strategic friendship.
There will be an enormous price to pay for this rift if Trump's abrasive approach unravels the effort to draw India into the Quad as a friend in the Indo-Pacific, when it has always seen itself as a non-aligned nation.
But Trump is right: India is making money from Russian oil. And Australia cannot look away because some of that oil makes its way to diesel and petrol bowsers across the country.
This reality shatters some of the political platitudes about the sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. While it is true that Australia and others have frozen Russian assets and targeted individuals with sanctions, the oil trade has been hard to stop.
Here is how it works: Russia ships the oil to Indian refineries, gaining hard currency to help fund the war in Ukraine. The refineries, including the giant Jamnagar facility in Gujarat, ship diesel, petrol and aviation fuel to the world. Australia is a willing customer.