Washington: Former US President Donald Trump has issued a fresh caution to India, suggesting that Washington could move swiftly to impose higher trade duties if New Delhi continues buying crude oil from Russia. Trump indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was already aware of his dissatisfaction on the matter.
Addressing journalists while travelling aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump described Modi in positive terms but underscored that the issue of Russian energy imports remained a sticking point for him. He implied that trade measures could be used as leverage, noting that tariff decisions could be taken rapidly if the situation did not align with US expectations.
The remarks come at a time when global energy politics are once again under sharp focus. Recent US military action involving Venezuela has renewed attention on oil supply chains and geopolitical influence. Venezuela, despite possessing the largest confirmed crude reserves in the world—estimated at more than 300 billion barrels—has seen its output fall sharply. Years of sanctions, limited investment and infrastructure challenges have reduced production to roughly one million barrels a day, far below its potential capacity, according to industry estimates and OPEC data.
Against this backdrop, India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian oil has drawn increasing attention in Washington. Since the Ukraine conflict began, New Delhi has significantly expanded its imports from Moscow, arguing that affordable energy is critical for sustaining growth and protecting consumers from price volatility. Indian officials have consistently maintained that these purchases are guided by national interest rather than geopolitics.
Trump’s latest comments also follow recent diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Only weeks ago, he and Modi spoke by phone, during which both leaders emphasized the need to keep bilateral trade discussions on track despite lingering disagreements over tariffs and market access. That conversation coincided with a new round of talks between Indian and US negotiators aimed at breaking a long-standing deadlock in trade relations.
However, trade tensions have continued to simmer. Shortly before the call with Modi, Trump publicly floated the idea of imposing fresh duties on Indian rice exports to the United States. The threat emerged after a US farm industry representative complained at a White House discussion that producers in India, China and Thailand were allegedly flooding the market at unfair prices.
Taken together, Trump’s comments suggest that energy ties with Russia could become intertwined with broader US-India trade negotiations. While both sides have repeatedly described their partnership as strategic and mutually beneficial, the former US president’s warning highlights how economic tools such as tariffs may be used to influence policy choices—particularly when energy security and global alliances intersect.
