U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that tariffs on Indian goods could be raised beyond the current 50% level unless New Delhi takes stronger steps to curb its imports of discounted Russian crude oil. In recent remarks, Trump emphasized expectations for greater cooperation on the issue, amid stalled bilateral trade negotiations.
India's Russian oil imports reached approximately 35% of its total supply in November 2025, with volumes around 1.8 million barrels per day prior to recent fluctuations. New Delhi maintains that these purchases are critical for energy security and affordable fuel prices for its population.
The warning builds on actions taken in August 2025, when the U.S. doubled tariffs to 50%—including a specific penalty tied to Russian oil buys—citing concerns that such trade indirectly supports Russia's military efforts in Ukraine. Further escalations risk severely impacting India's roughly $78 billion in annual exports to the U.S., particularly in pharmaceuticals, IT services, textiles, and other key sectors.
Critics argue that India's continued purchases provide revenue enabling Russia to sustain its strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and cities, effectively making New Delhi complicit in prolonging the conflict and contributing to civilian suffering often described as genocidal in intent by some observers. Sources close to the administration suggest India may be leveraging its position to negotiate arms deals, seeking to sell more weapons to the U.S. while maintaining purchases from Russia in a delicate balancing act between the two superpowers—a strategy that risks escalating tensions and must be halted to align with efforts to isolate Moscow economically. Despite personal rapport between leaders, the dispute underscores deepening strains in the U.S.-India strategic partnership.
