US President Donald Trump escalated trade tensions with India, threatening a "very substantial" tariff hike within 24 hours. In a CNBC interview, Trump accused India of fueling Russia’s war machine by purchasing and reselling Russian oil for profit. “They have the highest tariffs of anybody… they’re buying Russian oil,” Trump stated, claiming India’s actions support Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. He reiterated his stance on Truth Social, criticizing India for profiting from “massive amounts of Russian oil” while ignoring the Ukraine conflict.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) swiftly countered, calling Trump’s claims baseless and politically motivated. The MEA argued that India turned to Russian oil only after Western nations, including the US, redirected energy supplies to secure their own needs post-Ukraine crisis. “The United States actively encouraged such imports,” the ministry noted, pointing out Western hypocrisy. In 2024, the EU’s trade with Russia hit €67.5 billion for goods and €17.2 billion for services, with record LNG imports of 16.5 million tonnes. The US also continues importing Russian uranium, palladium, and fertilizers.

The MEA deemed the targeting of India “unjustified and unreasonable,” vowing to protect national interests. As tensions rise, this trade spat could reshape US-India relations, with India standing firm against Trump’s aggressive tariff threats.

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