Trump Warns India: Cheap Russian Oil Could Ruin Trade Ties with the U.S.

Tensions between Washington and New Delhi are escalating. The White House has accused India of directly supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine through purchases of discounted Russian oil. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi strengthens ties with Moscow and Beijing, Donald Trump is responding with harsh tariffs and threats of deeper isolation.

Washington Raises the Stakes White House advisor Peter Navarro warned that India can no longer pretend to be neutral. In a Financial Times commentary, he argued that New Delhi’s oil deals are “funding Putin’s war machine” and must stop immediately. Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, saying this is directly linked to India’s ongoing oil imports from Russia. “If India wants to be considered a strategic partner of the U.S., it must start acting like one,” Navarro added.

New Delhi Defies Pressure Despite sanctions and threats, India’s state-owned Indian Oil Corporation confirmed it will continue purchases as long as they remain economically viable. According to its CFO Anuj Jain, 24% of India’s oil came from Russia in the second quarter of this year, compared to 22% in 2024/2025. Currently, India is securing discounts of about $1.50 per barrel compared to the Dubai benchmark price.

Closer Ties with China U.S. criticism is also accelerating India’s rapprochement with China. Modi is expected to meet President Xi Jlnping, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit New Delhi to discuss the ongoing border dispute. This comes just as Trump canceled a planned visit by U.S. trade negotiators, which was supposed to ease tensions and explore a new deal.

A Bloody Week for Ukraine The standoff unfolds as Ukraine suffers more deadly attacks. In Kharkiv, a Russian drone strike on a residential complex killed seven people, including a one-year-old girl. Three more civilians were killed in Zaporizhzhia. President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of trying to sabotage his meeting with Trump in Washington. “Putin is determined to humiliate diplomacy and keep Ukraine and Europe under constant pressure,” Zelensky said.

Trade or Alliance? The Trump administration is forcing India to make a tough choice – continue reaping the benefits of cheap Russian oil or risk losing a valuable trade partnership with the United States.

#India , #russia , #TRUMP , #Tariffs , #Geopolitics

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