India Holds Mirror to Trump, Strikes Back at Russian Oil Tariff Threat: ‘Protecting Its Own Interests’

US President Donald Trump threatened to substantially raise tariffs on Indian goods to penalize India for its continued imports of discounted Russian oil, accusing India of profiting from these purchases and funding Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Trump’s threat came amid India importing nearly 40 percent of its oil from Russia to stabilize its economy and energy prices. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly rejected the threat as “unjustified and unreasonable,” reminding that India began buying Russian oil after traditional supplies shifted to Europe and that the US had initially encouraged such imports to stabilize global energy markets. The MEA also highlighted the hypocrisy of the US and EU, which continue substantial trade with Russia despite sanctions, emphasizing that India’s imports are driven by national interest and economic security.