 "Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. File image/ AP")
Nikki Haley, former US Ambassador to the United Nations, has criticised President Donald Trump for his remarks about significantly increasing tariffs on Russian oil imports from India, accusing him of giving “China a pass” and warning against damaging ties with “a strong ally like India”.
In a post on X, Haley said that China, a key adversary of the United States and “number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil,” had been granted a 90-day tariff pause by the Trump administration.
“India should not be buying oil from Russia. But China, an adversary and the number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause. Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India,” she said.
On Tuesday, Trump stated that he would raise tariffs on Indian imports from the current 25% rate “very substantially” within 24 hours due to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil, according to Reuters.
“They’re fuelling the war machine, and if they’re going to do that, then I’m not going to be happy,” Trump told CNBC in an interview, as quoted by Reuters.
According to the report, Trump added that the main issue with India was its high tariff rates, though he did not specify the new proposed rate. He alleged that a substantial portion of oil imported from Russia was being sold on the open market “for big profits”, adding that the United States would “substantially raise” the tariffs imposed on India for purchasing “massive amounts of Russian oil” as of Monday.
The remarks followed an earlier announcement by Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he reiterated the move and added a yet-undisclosed penalty for India’s continued oil imports from Russia.
“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!” the US President wrote.
The United States and China had agreed in May to a 90-day tariff pause, during which US tariffs were reduced from 145% to 30%, and Chinese duties from 125% to 10%, according to an Al Jazeera report.
Soon after Trump’s remarks on Monday, the Indian government described the targeting of India as “unjustified and unreasonable”.
In a statement, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India would take all necessary steps to protect its national interests and economic security.
The statement highlighted that India had been repeatedly targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine.
“In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability. India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market situation. However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” the statement read.
The MEA spokesperson noted that in 2024, the European Union’s bilateral trade in goods with Russia stood at €67.5 billion, along with trade in services estimated at €17.2 billion in 2023.
“This is significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently. European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5 million tonnes, surpassing the last record of 15.21 million tonnes in 2022.”
The spokesperson added that Europe’s trade with Russia includes not only energy, but also fertilisers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel, and machinery and transport equipment.
“Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals. In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the statement reiterated.
India has consistently defended its sovereign right to determine its energy policy based on national interest. The government has stated that its energy purchases are shaped by market dynamics and strategic needs.
“You are aware of our broad approach to energy sourcing requirements, that we look at what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation. We are not aware of any specifics,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week, responding to queries about Trump’s announcement.
Responding to another question, Jaiswal said that India’s bilateral relationships should not be seen through the lens of third countries.
“Our ties with any country stand on their merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership,” he added.
Answering a query on Friday, Trump indicated that it would be “a good step” if India stopped buying oil from Russia.
The Trump administration had imposed 25% tariffs on Indian goods and a penalty for Russian oil imports in the last week of July, despite hopes of reaching an interim India-US trade deal that could have prevented a tariff escalation.
Experts have warned that if India were to cease Russian oil imports, global crude prices could spike to $200 a barrel, significantly impacting global energy markets and consumers.