Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Aug 4: US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose substantially higher tariffs on India over its continued purchase and resale of Russian oil, a move that has prompted strong responses from both Washington and New Delhi.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused India of profiting from the Ukraine war: "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," he wrote. "Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA."

This is not the first time Trump has criticized countries for maintaining trade with Russia. However, this direct warning to India — a long-time U.S. strategic partner — signals a potential shift in tone if Trump returns to the White House. Last week, Trump had also floated the idea of a 25% blanket tariff on Indian goods and warned of penalties for continuing energy ties with Moscow. More recently, he has spoken of 100% tariffs for countries aiding what he calls Russia’s war funding.

Trump’s former advisor Stephen Miller reinforced the position on Sunday, saying: "What he said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing oil from Russia." Even while echoing the criticism, Miller also attempted to soften the blow by claiming that Trump’s relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains “tremendous”.

Reacting to these developments, Indian government sources and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made it clear that India has not paused its Russian oil imports, and its energy policy is driven by national interest and market forces. "India's energy purchases are driven by national interests and market forces. We do not have any reports of Indian oil firms halting Russian imports," a senior source said.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that India’s ties with any country, including Russia, "stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country." He added, "As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership."

India has consistently argued that its oil imports are a sovereign economic decision, especially crucial in balancing inflation and ensuring affordable energy access for over a billion citizens.

The remarks come in the heat of the 2024 U.S. Presidential campaign, where Trump is increasingly focusing on foreign policy as a battleground. His comments signal that if elected again, he might take a harder line on trade and energy issues, including targeting Indian goods and possibly reviving tariff regimes from his first term.

India, meanwhile, is unlikely to budge on its Russia policy without significant global shifts. While India has increased its engagement with the U.S., especially in defense and technology, its relationship with Russia remains robust — particularly on energy, defense procurement, and diplomatic forums like BRICS.

Trump’s threats may appeal to his domestic base, but they put U.S.-India ties on a sensitive footing. India appears prepared to defend its energy autonomy, even as it navigates a tricky diplomatic terrain ahead of both countries’ crucial elections.