Norwegian diplomat criticises US indictment of Adani Group as "overreach"
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The US Department of Justice's (DoJ) indictment of Adani Group officials has been labeled a "complete American overreach" by Erik Solheim, a veteran Norwegian diplomat and former Minister of Environment.
Speaking to IANS on Saturday, Solheim emphasized that any grievances about the Adani Group should be addressed through India's judicial system rather than US courts.
“If the US has complaints about Adani, it should first notify the Indian government. Such matters must be dealt with within India’s legal framework,” he stated, adding that this approach is essential for respecting sovereign jurisdictions.
Solheim warned that actions like these could hinder the Adani Group’s significant contributions to India’s green energy goals. “The Adani Group has ambitious plans for solar and wind energy projects in India and globally. They’ve also pledged $10 billion for US energy security initiatives, which could create 15,000 local jobs. These indictments threaten to derail such efforts,” he said.
Highlighting the conglomerate’s role in the green revolution, Solheim remarked that unnecessary interference could harm global progress toward sustainable energy transitions.
Reflecting on the broader implications of the indictment, Solheim criticized the era when Western nations, particularly the United States, acted as global judges. “Those days are over. This authoritative approach must stop,” he asserted.
In response to the indictment, the Adani Group has dismissed the allegations as “malicious and manipulative,” accusing the DoJ of misusing publicly available information to draw biased conclusions. The conglomerate expressed confidence in overcoming the charges and emerging stronger.
The indictment includes accusations ranging from securities fraud to wire fraud, which the Group vehemently denies.
Meanwhile, Breon Peace, the US Attorney who spearheaded the charges, is set to step down on January 10, just before Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.