President Donald Trump signaled on Friday that the United States may not impose additional secondary tariffs on India for its continued purchase of Russian crude oil, easing concerns about further trade penalties. Speaking to Fox News aboard Air Force One en route to a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump suggested flexibility in his approach to sanctions. “If I have to do a secondary sanction or tariff, it would be very devastating… Maybe I won’t have to do it,” he said, noting India’s significant role in purchasing about 40% of Russia’s oil.

The remarks follow heightened tensions after Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian imports, including a 25% levy specifically targeting India’s Russian oil purchases, set to take effect on August 27. The move drew sharp criticism from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which called the tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable” and vowed to protect national interests. “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its economic security,” the ministry stated.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had warned on Wednesday that secondary sanctions could escalate if the Trump-Putin summit, which ended without a Russia-Ukraine war resolution, failed to yield progress. “If things don’t go well, sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up,” Bessent told Bloomberg, though he noted sanctions could also be loosened depending on circumstances.

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Trump’s comments come amid India’s firm stance on continuing Russian oil imports, driven by market factors and the need to ensure energy security for its 1.4 billion people. The Indian Oil Corporation’s chairman, AS Sahney, clarified there is “no pause” in these imports, despite US pressure. The potential reprieve from additional tariffs offers temporary relief to India, a key Russian oil buyer alongside China, as both nations navigate global energy markets under Western scrutiny.

The summit’s failure to resolve the Ukraine conflict keeps the tariff threat alive, with Trump hinting he may revisit the issue in weeks. For now, India’s economic ties with Russia remain a flashpoint in US-India relations, with New Delhi defending its energy strategy as vital for stability.

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