Washington [US]: US President Donald Trump has said that Russia has effectively lost India as an oil client, while weighing the economic fallout of sanctions on Moscow and its energy trade partners.
In an interview with Fox News aboard Air Force One, Trump remarked, “Well, they lost an oil client so to speak, which is India, which was doing about 40% of the oil. China, as you know, is doing a lot… and if I did secondary sanctions, it would be devastating from their standpoint. If I have to do it, I’ll do it, maybe I won’t have to do it.”
Trump’s statement comes in the backdrop of escalating tariff measures against New Delhi. On August 7, he announced an additional 25% levy on Indian imports linked to Russian oil purchases, raising the total tariff burden to 50%. The White House said the move was driven by “national security and foreign policy concerns,” calling India’s trade with Russia an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States.
When asked why India was being singled out while other countries, including China, continue buying Russian oil, Trump responded, “It’s only been 8 hours. So let’s see what happens. You’re going to see a lot more… so much secondary sanctions.” He also hinted that similar penalties on China “could happen,” depending on future developments.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi strongly condemned the tariffs, calling them “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.” In a statement, it stressed that India’s oil imports are driven by market conditions and aimed at ensuring the energy security of its 1.4 billion citizens.
“It is extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest,” the MEA said, vowing to take “all actions necessary to protect national interests.”
The latest escalation adds tension to US-India ties at a time when global energy markets and security alignments are already strained by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war
