India calls Trump’s comments over Russian oil imports ‘illogical’

The Indian government on Monday dismissed US President Donald Trump’s threats of tariff hikes over India’s import of Russian oil as “unfair and illogical.”

Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, accused India of purchasing large quantities of Russian oil and then reselling it for profit, while showing disregard for the human cost of Russia’s war in Ukraine. He warned of increased tariffs on Indian goods as a consequence.

In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong statement emphasizing that India’s imports of Russian oil are driven by the need to maintain affordable energy prices for its citizens amid global supply disruptions. The MEA highlighted that the U.S. and European Union themselves continue significant trade with Russia, making Trump’s criticism inconsistent.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary steps to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”

India pointed out that since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, supplies from Russia have largely shifted towards Europe, with India stepping in to fill the gap. Notably, the U.S. had earlier encouraged such imports to stabilize global energy markets.

Trade figures underline the complexity: The European Union’s trade with Russia remains substantial, with bilateral trade valued at €67.5 billion in 2024 and service trade worth €17.2 billion in 2023. EU imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia also hit record highs recently.

Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to import key materials from Russia, including uranium hexafluoride and palladium, critical to its nuclear and electric vehicle industries.

Trump had initially announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods last week, threatening a “penalty” for India’s purchases of Russian oil and weapons. On Monday, he reiterated these threats without specifying details.

India’s government insists it will take all necessary measures to protect its economic and strategic interests amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.