In a strongly worded rebuttal, India on Monday (August 4) dismissed US President Donald Trump’s latest threats to hike tariffs on Indian goods over the country’s continued import of Russian oil, calling the move “unjustified, unreasonable, and deeply hypocritical.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) defended India’s energy policy, asserting that crude imports from Russia were driven by “market realities, not political alignment.”
The sharp response came hours after Trump accused India of “buying massive amounts of Russian oil and reselling it for profit,” and announced his intention to “substantially raise” tariffs on Indian exports to the US.
India defends its energy strategy
In a detailed statement, the MEA emphasised that India’s energy deals with Russia were necessary for maintaining domestic economic stability amid global disruptions triggered by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the MEA said, underlining the country’s commitment to ensuring stable and affordable energy access for its 1.4 billion citizens.
Calling out what it termed “selective outrage”, the MEA pointed to the ongoing trade between the US, EU, and Russia, which continues despite public condemnation of Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
Statement by Official Spokesperson⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/O2hJTOZBby pic.twitter.com/RTQ2beJC0W— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 4, 2025
MEA exposes Western double standards
The ministry presented a scathing comparison of trade volumes, highlighting that the European Union recorded 67.5 billion euros in goods trade and 17.2 billion euros in services trade with Russia, figures far exceeding India’s limited imports.
The MEA further pointed out that EU nations continue to import Russian chemicals, fertilisers, machinery, iron and steel, while the United States has continued importing uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its electric vehicle sector, and other strategic resources from Russia.
“India began importing from Russia because traditional energy supplies were diverted to Europe following the conflict’s outbreak. Ironically, the US had at that time encouraged India to source Russian oil to stabilise global energy markets,” the statement noted.
Trump’s tariff threat
Trump, in his latest remarks, accused New Delhi of making “big profits” from Russian oil imports and claimed that such actions undermined global pressure on Russia. He vowed to “substantially raise tariffs” on Indian goods, though he did not specify the extent of the proposed hike.
This is not Trump’s first move on tariffs against India. Earlier in his term, he had imposed a 25 percent tariff on Indian steel exports and introduced unspecified penalties for India’s purchase of Russian military equipment and crude oil.
“India must pay for what it’s doing with Russia,” Trump said, in remarks widely seen as an attempt to escalate pressure on New Delhi.
Moscow responds
Reacting to Washington’s threats, the Russian Foreign Ministry took a swipe at the US, saying its tariff threats were signs of “declining influence and frustration.”
🎙 Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria #Zakharova:
Washington is unable to accept the erosion of its dominance in an emerging multipolar international order.
❗️ No tariff wars or sanctions can halt the natural course of history. https://t.co/EU2NKETj7y pic.twitter.com/SYJtlpcaib
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) August 4, 2025
“Washington is unable to accept the erosion of its dominance in an emerging multipolar international order. No tariff wars or sanctions can halt the natural course of history,” the Russian statement read.
Strategic autonomy and national interest
India’s position signals a firm assertion of strategic autonomy amid intensifying geopolitical rivalry. While New Delhi has maintained a careful balance between its partners in the West and its long-standing ties with Russia, it has consistently emphasised that its energy and defence policies will not be dictated by external pressures.
With no formal trade war declared, the diplomatic spat could have economic ramifications for bilateral trade between India and the US, which reached over 128 billion dollars in 2023.
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