US President Donald Trump on Monday warned that Washington could further increase tariffs on Indian imports if New Delhi does not cooperate on what he described as the “Russian oil issue.” The remarks were made during a public address and were reported by news agency Reuters.
“We could raise tariffs on India if they don’t help on Russian oil issue,” Trump was quoted as saying, signalling renewed pressure on New Delhi even as trade negotiations between the two countries continue.
India’s Russian Oil Imports And Earlier Tariff Hike By Trump
Trump’s comments refer to India’s continued oil trade with Russia, a practice that his administration has long opposed. The issue was earlier cited as the justification for doubling tariffs on Indian imports to 50% in August 2025.
The latest warning suggests that the US could escalate trade measures further if it believes India has not taken steps to reduce or end its Russian oil purchases.
Trump Makes U-Turn After Saying PM Modi Assured Him Of No Russian Oil Buy
The US President’s remarks come months after he publicly claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that India would stop buying Russian oil.
“There will be no oil. He’s not buying oil,” Trump had said in October, just weeks after the 50% tariffs came into effect.
However, India had firmly denied the assertion, stating that no such conversation had taken place between Trump and Prime Minister Modi.
India’s Consistent Position On Russian Oil Purchases
Despite sustained pushback from the Trump administration on the Russian oil issue, India has consistently maintained that its energy policies are driven by market availability and the needs of Indian consumers.
New Delhi has argued that its purchasing decisions are guided by economic considerations rather than political pressure.
Trump’s latest comments could add fresh strain to India-US diplomatic relations, which have already faced turbulence following the tariff hikes.
However, a brief thaw in ties was observed after the imposition of tariffs. At the time, Trump said he would “always be friends” with Prime Minister Modi and referred to a “special relationship” between the two countries.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
