Trump Was Asked Why He's Singling Out India Over Russia Trade. His Reply
US President Donald Trump warned of new "secondary sanctions" for Moscow's trading partners when he was asked why India was being "singled out" for its business ties with Russia, leaving other nations that have been buying Russian energy.
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- From: India News Bull
US President Donald Trump has imposed additional 25% tariffs on Indian imports over its substantial purchases of Russian oil, prompting New Delhi to label these measures as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable."
Washington:
When questioned about why India was being "singled out" for its Russian business ties while other nations continue buying Russian energy, President Trump hinted at broader consequences to come. "It's only been 8 hours. So let's see what happens. You're going to see a lot more...You're going to see so many secondary sanctions," Trump stated Wednesday after signing the executive order that placed a 25% additional tariff on Indian imports, on top of existing 25% duties.
#WATCH | On being asked, 'Indian officials have said that there are other countries that are buying Russian oil, like China, for instance. Why are you singling India out for these additional sanctions', US President Donald Trump says, "It's only been 8 hours. So let's see what… pic.twitter.com/YRNbR06ne8
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2025Despite India emerging as a key Washington partner in its strategic competition with China recently, India's substantial US trade surplus and close Russian relations have made it a primary target in Trump's global tariff campaign. The Republican president aims to pressure Russia into agreeing to a peace deal with Ukraine.
Trump's suggestion that India could purchase oil from arch-rival Pakistan has further strained relations with New Delhi. India responded with an unusually pointed statement, accusing the US of double standards by targeting India's Russian oil imports while continuing to buy Russian uranium hexafluoride, palladium, and fertilizer.
On Wednesday, India vowed to "take all actions necessary to protect its national interests" in response to the tariffs.
What's At Stake
Analysts warn that Trump's recent actions risk undoing twenty years of diplomatic progress between Washington and New Delhi and could jeopardize other cooperative areas as domestic political pressures drive both sides to take harder positions.
"India is now in a trap: because of Trump's pressure, Modi will reduce India's oil purchases from Russia, but he cannot publicly admit to doing so for fear of looking like he's surrendering to Trump's blackmail," Ashley Tellis from Washington's Carnegie Endowment for International Peace told Reuters.
"We could be heading into a needless crisis that unravels a quarter century of hard-won gains with India," she added.
Evan Feigenbaum, a former senior State Department official during George W. Bush's Republican administration, warned that relations with India risk becoming a "football in American domestic politics."
"Issues that directly touch India are among the most partisan and explosive in Washington, including immigration and deportation, H1B visas for tech workers, offshoring and overseas manufacturing by U.S. companies, and technology sharing and co-innovation with foreigners," he wrote in a LinkedIn post.