Diesel to Dragon: Nayara Refinery Ships to China as PM Modi Turns EU Sanctions Into Strategic Win: Gaurav

JAMMU: BJP Spokesperson for J&K UT, Gaurav Gupta, today lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bold and visionary diplomacy, pointing to two landmark trade developments as evidence of India’s growing strategic and economic clout — the historic shipment of diesel from Nayara Refinery in Gujarat to China for the first time since 2021, and Beijing’s removal of export curbs on urea to India.

Gupta noted that these moves come amidst a visible thaw in India–China ties after years of diplomatic chill since the 2020 Galwan clashes. The breakthrough follows months of sustained engagement, including high-level visits by NSA Ajit Doval, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar to China, as well as Chinese Vice Minister Sun Weidong’s recent consultations in New Delhi. PM Modi is set to visit Tianjin later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit — his first China visit since 2018 — underscoring the renewed momentum in bilateral relations.

Gupta highlighted that the Nayara diesel shipment to China carries a unique strategic symbolism. The Vadinar refinery, partly owned by Russia’s Rosneft, was specifically targeted in the European Union’s latest sanctions package aimed at restricting India’s purchase and processing of discounted Russian crude. Yet, instead of bowing to pressure, India has turned the situation into an opportunity, opening up fresh trade channels and even selling fuel to a country it had tense relations with until recently. “The EU sought to squeeze India, but under PM Modi’s leadership, we have shown that our energy diplomacy serves our national interest alone — and cannot be dictated by others,” Gupta said.

On the agricultural front, Gupta welcomed China’s decision to lift export restrictions on urea to India, which had severely curtailed supplies last year. He pointed out that in FY 2023–24, India imported $774 million worth of urea from China, but the figure dropped sharply to $42.8 million in FY 2024–25 after Beijing’s export ban. With the curbs now removed, millions of Indian farmers will benefit from stable fertilizer availability ahead of crucial sowing seasons.

Gupta further observed that these developments are taking place even as US President Donald Trump has sharply escalated tariffs on Indian goods — now totaling 50% — citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. “Despite global headwinds — EU sanctions, US tariffs, and historic tensions with China — India today negotiates from a position of strength, secures its farmers’ needs, and expands its energy markets,” Gupta said.

He concluded that under PM Modi’s decisive leadership, India is demonstrating a rare ability to transform challenges into victories, protect its sovereignty, and engage with any nation — friend or rival — strictly on terms that advance the nation’s interests.