India slams Trump over tariff threat on Russian oil

India has pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments threatening significantly higher tariffs on its trade, calling the move “unjustified and unreasonable.”

The warning comes in light of India’s ongoing purchase of Russian oil a key issue in growing tensions between the two countries.

In a post shared on Truth Social, Trump criticised India’s energy dealings with Moscow, claiming the country “doesn’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine.”

He further stated: “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. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.”

While Trump did not clarify what the new tariff rate would be, the statement follows his recent announcement of a 25% tariff on Indian goods, raising concerns in New Delhi.

India, now one of the biggest importers of Russian crude, became a key market for Moscow after many European nations reduced trade with Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Responding to the remarks, India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, highlighted the context in which the country began importing Russian oil.

He stated that the U.S. itself had encouraged India to consider Russian gas during the early days of the war, “for strengthening global energy markets stability.” According to Jaiswal, India turned to Russian supplies only after traditional sources were redirected to Europe in response to the conflict.

India also questioned the fairness of U.S. criticism, pointing out that the U.S. continues to trade with Russia. According to estimates, U.S.-Russia trade amounted to about $3.5 billion in goods last year, despite multiple rounds of sanctions.

“Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security. The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable,” the foreign ministry said.

Although Trump referred to India as a “friend” last week, he has repeatedly complained that the country imposes high tariffs on U.S. products and has hinted at penalties related to its dealings with Russia. His recent comments suggest a shift to a more forceful stance on the issue.

Despite the pressure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not directed Indian refiners to stop sourcing oil from Russia. According to Bloomberg, Indian refineries continue to operate independently, sourcing crude based on market factors like cost, availability, and export conditions.

Meanwhile, Trump has also toughened his stance toward Russia. Although U.S.-Russia relations saw signs of improvement when Trump returned to the White House in January, recent comments reflect growing frustration. Trump has questioned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to pursue peace and has warned of new sanctions if no ceasefire is reached by 8 August. “The Russian War Machine” was how he described Russia’s military in his latest post.

Putin has said that peace is possible but insists that Ukraine must first meet conditions, including recognising Russian-occupied territories as part of Russia.

In a further development, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow later this week, where he is likely to meet with Putin in a continuing effort to push for a ceasefire agreement.

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