Donald Trump Accuses India of Aiding Russia’s War Effort, Vows to Raise Tariffs
Former US President Donald Trump has once again targeted India, accusing it of fuelling Russia’s “war machine” in Ukraine by purchasing and reselling Russian oil, and has vowed to increase tariffs on Indian imports.
In a post on his platform Truth Social on Monday, Trump alleged that India is buying large volumes of Russian oil and then reselling much of it on the open market for substantial profits. He criticised the Indian government for allegedly turning a blind eye to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the casualties caused by Russia.
“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!” Trump wrote.
While he did not specify the exact increase in tariff rates, he hinted at a “substantial” rise, marking an escalation from his earlier actions. During his presidency, Trump had already imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods and imposed an unspecified penalty for India’s purchase of Russian crude oil and defence equipment.
Just last week, he reiterated plans to impose a 25% tariff on all Indian goods, citing what he termed as India’s high trade barriers and its ongoing strategic and energy partnerships with Russia.
Trump’s remarks come amid his ongoing campaign for the 2024 US presidential elections, where he has once again taken a hardline stance on international trade, particularly against countries that maintain economic ties with Russia despite Western sanctions.
India, for its part, has defended its energy purchases from Russia, citing national interest and global energy security. The Indian government has not yet officially responded to Trump’s latest comments.
