U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to significantly increase tariffs on Indian goods, accusing New Delhi of profiting from large-scale Russian oil imports amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The warning has sparked swift condemnation from India, which called the move unjustified and pledged to protect its national interests.
In a post shared on his Truth Social platform, Trump criticized India’s continued energy dealings with Moscow, alleging that the country is buying “massive amounts of Russian oil” and reselling it for “big profits.”
“They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,” Trump wrote. “Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.”
While Trump did not provide specific figures, existing tariffs on Indian goods—currently set at 10 percent—are already scheduled to rise to 25 percent later this week. His remarks come just days before a potential Friday deadline he has set for Moscow to show progress toward a peace agreement with Kyiv.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs wasted no time in responding. Spokesman Randhir Jaiswal dismissed Trump’s tariff threat as baseless, asserting, “The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
India has emerged as a critical buyer of discounted Russian crude, especially after Western sanctions following the 2022 invasion forced Russia out of its traditional European markets. The shift has enabled India to save billions of dollars on energy imports, while also keeping Russian oil revenues afloat.
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Justifying its position, New Delhi explained that its turn to Russian supplies was not out of alignment with global norms but rather a necessity. “India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict,” the foreign ministry noted.
The Trump administration’s renewed pressure on India coincides with heightened diplomatic activity. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week as part of ongoing efforts to broker a peace settlement.
Despite not being an export giant, India maintains a vital trade relationship with the United States, which is its largest trading partner. The latest tariff threats, however, risk straining that relationship at a time of geopolitical tension and shifting alliances.
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