Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said India's continued buying of discounted Russian oil was unacceptable to the United States. While he described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 'a good guy' who understood his concerns, Trump made it clear that Washington is prepared to take stronger economic action if needed.
'They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,' Trump told the press when asked about India's Russian oil imports, underscoring that trade measures remain a key tool in U.S. foreign policy.
The latest warning comes after the U.S. already doubled tariffs on most Indian imports to 50% last year, largely as punishment for India's heavy purchases of Russian crude. Despite this steep tariff rate, among the highest applied by Washington against any trading partner, India's exports to the U.S. actually grew in late 2025, demonstrating resilience amid rising economic tensions.
In response to U.S. pressure, Indian authorities have taken a step toward greater transparency by asking refiners to report weekly data on their crude oil purchases from both Russia and the United States, according to people familiar with the plans. This reflects New Delhi's effort to balance its energy needs with the pursuit of a potential trade agreement with Washington.
Indian officials expect that imports of Russian crude are already declining and could fall below 1 million barrels per day as the country seeks to find common ground with U.S. negotiators.
Modi and Trump have spoken by phone several times since the tariffs were first imposed, but the discussions have not yet produced a definitive resolution. High-level trade officials from both countries have also met recently to discuss economic ties, yet major differences remain particularly on energy and agricultural policy.
India's commerce ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump's latest remarks. Still, New Delhi has historically resisted external pressure on its energy strategy, emphasizing its right to pursue policies based on national interests and energy security.
At its core, this dispute highlights a broader geopolitical tension: the United States is pushing allies and major democracies like India to cut ties with Russian energy as part of pressure related to Russia's war in Ukraine, while India maintains that affordable energy supplies remain critical to its development and stability.
The use of tariffs as leverage shows how trade policy has become interwoven with global diplomatic goals making the U.S.-India relationship both economically vital and strategically complex.
Rania Umutoni
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/trump-threatens-higher-tariffs-on-india-over-russian-oil-purchases
