Washington/New Delhi: Former U.S. President Donald Trump has responded to India’s criticism over Washington’s trade with Russia while threatening punitive tariffs on New Delhi for similar dealings. When asked about India referencing America’s continued imports from Russia, Trump replied, “I don’t know anything about it. I’ll have to check, but we’ll get back to you on that.”
This comes as Trump ramps up pressure on India with a proposed 25% tariff on its exports to the United States, citing India’s purchase of military hardware and energy from Russia. He has accused India of being among the largest buyers of Russian energy, alongside China, and warned of escalating measures.
India, pushing back firmly, pointed out that the United States continues to source various materials from Russia, including uranium hexafluoride for nuclear energy, palladium for electric vehicle manufacturing, and fertilizers. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal termed Washington’s stance “unjustified and unreasonable”, stressing that India would act to protect its national and economic interests.
Despite Trump’s intensified rhetoric, India has reportedly not issued any directive to curb imports from Russia. Officials maintain that India’s global partnerships, particularly in energy and defense, are guided by its own strategic interests and market conditions — not external pressure.
“Our decisions on defense procurement or energy sourcing are rooted in national priorities and prevailing international conditions,” Jaiswal stated at a recent press conference. “Our relations with any nation should not be assessed through the lens of another country.”
Amid growing debate, Indian-American leader and Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley has come out in support of India. On X (formerly Twitter), she described India as a “strong ally” and criticized the Biden administration’s 90-day tariff delay for China, Russia’s top oil buyer. “Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India,” she posted.
Trump, meanwhile, clarified that he hadn’t set a specific percentage for the proposed tariffs but hinted that significant action could be forthcoming. “I never mentioned a percentage, but we’ll be doing quite a bit of that,” he said. His remarks follow earlier threats of 100% tariffs on Russian goods and potential secondary sanctions on countries maintaining economic ties with Moscow.
India has significantly increased its imports of discounted Russian oil and other commodities since Western nations imposed sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict in 2022. According to a Reuters report, New Delhi imported Russian oil worth over $50 billion in the 2024–25 financial year alone.
As the situation develops, India maintains that its foreign policy will remain independent and focused on national priorities, even as international pressure mounts.
