Trump’s Tariff Threats Return: Washington’s Pressure on India Over Russian Oil Rekindles Debate on America’s Global Power Play
In yet another episode of Washington’s recurring diplomatic muscle-flexing, US President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed to have spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi — asserting that India had agreed to halt purchases of Russian oil.
He warned that if New Delhi failed to comply, the United States would continue imposing “massive” tariffs on Indian goods.
“I spoke with Prime Minister Modi of India, and he said he’s not going to be doing the Russian oil thing,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, as quoted by Reuters.
But when India firmly denied that any such conversation had taken place, Trump brushed it off: “If they want to say that, then they’ll just continue to pay massive tariffs — and they don’t want to do that.”
This verbal duel adds another layer to the already tense trade dynamics between the two nations.
For months, Washington has been frustrated by India’s steady import of discounted Russian crude — an arrangement that New Delhi insists is both economical and essential for its energy security.
Nearly half of the US-imposed tariffs on Indian goods reportedly stem from America’s disapproval of these oil deals.
The Trump administration argues that revenue from Russian petroleum continues to bankroll Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
India, however, has remained steadfast, maintaining that its duty is to protect the interests of its citizens and economy, not to align blindly with Western geopolitical pressures.
The Indian foreign ministry categorically stated that no conversation between Modi and Trump took place on the day claimed.
Meanwhile, a White House official hinted that India had reduced its Russian oil intake by nearly half — a claim quickly contradicted by Indian sources, who told Reuters that no such immediate dip had occurred.
With November shipments already booked and December deliveries on the horizon, Indian refiners expect little to change in the short term.
In fact, data from commodities analytics firm Kpler indicates that India’s Russian oil imports are likely to climb nearly 20% this month to 1.9 million barrels per day, as Moscow boosts exports in the wake of Ukrainian drone strikes on its refineries.
The American stance — alternating between threats and reconciliation — once again underscores a familiar pattern: pressure, pause, and renewed coercion.
Observers note that this oscillating strategy has not only strained US-India relations but also revealed the deeper contradictions in Washington’s global diplomacy.
One can’t help but wonder — how long will this cycle of economic intimidation and moral posturing continue to disrupt the very civilizations it claims to safeguard?
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