‘India will have to pay heavy tariffs if it continues to buy oil from Russia’, Trump threatens again
US President Donald Trump has once again attempted to threaten India with tariffs. He said that if India continues to buy oil from Russia, it will have to pay heavy tariffs. Trump’s comments come at a time when Washington is increasing pressure on countries that continue to buy oil from Russia. The US says that Russia is continuing the war in Ukraine because of oil revenue.
Heavy Tariffs to Pay
Donald Trump has once again warned that if India does not limit its purchases of Russian oil, it will face “heavy” tariffs. He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has personally assured him that India will stop such imports. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “He (Prime Minister Modi) told me, ‘I won’t do the Russian oil thing.’ But if they continue to do it, they will have to pay heavy tariffs.”
Trump’s comments come at a time when Washington is increasing pressure on countries that continue to buy oil from Russia. The US says Russia supports Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
India denies Trump’s claim
Meanwhile, India has categorically denied Trump’s claim. At a press conference, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that it was “unaware of any conversation” between Prime Minister Modi and Trump. Jaiswal further stated that discussions on energy cooperation between India and the US are ongoing, but did not confirm Trump’s claim that New Delhi had agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil. He said, “Ensuring stable energy prices and secure supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy.”
This is the third time Trump has made this claim about India’s purchase of Russian oil and Prime Minister Modi’s assurances. Trump imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on India for purchasing Russian oil, bringing the total tariff on New Delhi to 50 percent. Although India has called the tariffs “unfair,” the Trump administration has defended its action.
