Donald Trump is escalating tensions with India, threatening a substantial hike in tariffs within 24 hours. The former U.S. president has voiced displeasure over India’s purchase of Russian oil, accusing New Delhi of fueling Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine. Trump criticized India as a “bad trading partner,” adding that despite substantial business ties with the U.S., India does not reciprocate in the same manner.
“India has not been a good trading partner,” Trump told CNBC. “They buy massive amounts of Russian oil, and that’s helping fuel the Russian war machine.” The warning follows his recent decision to slap a 25% tariff on Indian goods, a move that could escalate further due to India’s continued oil trade with Moscow.
In response, India hit back against both the U.S. and the EU, accusing them of hypocrisy. New Delhi pointed out that both Western powers continue trading with Russia, despite its invasion of Ukraine, while India is unfairly targeted. India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement criticizing the selective nature of the criticism.
Trump had previously attacked both India and Russia, calling them “dead economies,” and accused India of “selling Russian oil on the open market for big profits.” He vowed that these actions would result in even higher tariffs on Indian imports to the U.S.
The Kremlin also weighed in on the matter. Dmitry Peskov, Russia’s spokesperson, condemned Trump’s remarks, stating that such threats were illegal and aimed at pressuring countries to sever trade relations with Russia. Peskov emphasized that each country, including India, has the right to engage in trade with any nation it chooses.
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As Trump ramps up his rhetoric, this dispute signals rising global tensions. It underscores the ongoing complexity of international trade relations in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the shifting alliances among global powers.
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