Trump Deflects as India Points to U.S. Trade with Russia
U.S. President Donald Trump has sidestepped criticism from India regarding his administration’s apparent double standards on trade with Russia. When questioned about India’s remarks that the U.S. continues to import several key commodities from Russia even as it threatens New Delhi with trade penalties, Trump responded, “I don’t know anything about it, I’d have to check, but we’ll get back to you on that.” The statement came amid mounting tensions over the possibility of steep U.S. tariffs on Indian goods.
Last week, Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports, with additional unspecified penalties. He further hinted at raising those tariffs due to India’s continued energy and defence trade with Russia. “India is Russia’s largest energy buyer, along with China,” Trump said, warning of further action unless India changes course. The new tariff policy is slated to take effect after August 1, although discussions are still ongoing between the two countries.
India Hits Back, Cites U.S. Imports from Russia
India, refusing to yield under pressure, responded sharply to the tariff threats, calling them “unjustified and unreasonable.” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that the U.S. continues to import a range of goods from Russia, including uranium hexafluoride for nuclear energy, palladium for electric vehicle production, and various chemicals and fertilisers.
Jaiswal further emphasised that India’s procurement of energy and defence equipment is based purely on national interest. “The sourcing of our defence requirements is determined solely by national security imperatives and strategic assessments. Similarly, our energy sourcing is guided by market availability and the prevailing global circumstances,” he said during a recent press briefing.
India also reiterated that bilateral relationships should not be judged through the lens of third-party countries. This stance, New Delhi maintained, is in keeping with India’s sovereign right to make decisions in its best interests.
Haley Breaks Ranks, Backs India
While Trump continues his strong rhetoric, one of his prominent party members, Indian-American leader Nikki Haley, took a contrasting stand. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Haley defended India and criticised the unequal treatment between India and China.
“India should not be buying oil from Russia. But China, an adversary and the number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause. Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India,” Haley posted.
Her comments reflect growing discomfort within certain sections of the Republican establishment about the strategic fallout of alienating India—a key Indo-Pacific ally for Washington.
Trump Softens Threat, Offers Vague Timeline
Trump, meanwhile, appeared to walk back some of his earlier statements, saying he never explicitly mentioned a 100% tariff rate. “I never said a percentage, but we’ll be doing quite a bit of that. We’ll see what happens over the next fairly short period of time,” he told reporters.
His remarks came weeks after threatening secondary sanctions and steep tariffs on nations continuing trade with Russia, especially in energy and defence sectors. The threats were tied to a self-imposed 50-day deadline aimed at pushing for a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
India Unmoved, Continues Russian Energy Imports
Despite the mounting pressure, India has shown no signs of backing down. According to a Reuters report, India’s imports of Russian oil stood at $50.2 billion in the 2024–25 fiscal year. Following the imposition of Western sanctions on Moscow, New Delhi significantly increased its purchase of discounted Russian oil and commodities, citing energy security as a non-negotiable priority.
There have been no formal directives from the Indian government urging importers to scale back trade with Russia, reinforcing New Delhi’s position that its international partnerships are built on autonomy, not external influence.
As tensions escalate, the outcome of ongoing trade talks could shape the future of U.S.-India relations—particularly in a world order increasingly defined by shifting alliances and complex geopolitical calculations.
