WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump warned that India would face “massive tariffs” if it continues to buy oil from Russia, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him New Delhi would halt such purchases.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said India would “continue to pay massive tariffs” unless it stops importing Russian oil, adding that “they don’t want to do that.”
His remarks came in response to questions about India’s recent statements on energy imports from Russia.
Last week, India said it was “broad-basing and diversifying” its energy sources based on market conditions, shortly after Trump claimed that Modi had promised to end Russian oil imports.
“I don’t believe they said that,” Trump countered. “I spoke with Prime Minister Modi, and he said he’s not going to be doing the Russian oil thing.”
Washington has repeatedly accused India of helping Moscow finance its war through continued crude oil purchases.
Tensions between New Delhi and Washington have deepened after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, including an additional 25 per cent duty linked to India’s Russian oil imports.
India has condemned the move as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”
