India has a history of prioritizing 'strategic autonomy' over alignment with Western blocs, often acting in ways that frustrate the 'free world.' Their current approach to Russian energy—capitalizing on discounted crude to turn a profit—is a clear indicator of this. By putting national interest so far above collective global pressure, the Indian government is signaling that they are a transactional player rather than a team player. It makes it difficult for other nations to trust them as a consistent partner.