If President Donald Trump thought he could bully the nation of India to capitulate to his orders to stop buying Russian oil, perhaps expecting his envoy Steve Witkoff to arrive in Moscow later this week wearing India’s scalp on his belt, the President has gotten his comeuppance. India announced today that it will continue to import oil from whomever it chooses, and will “take all necessary measures to safeguard” its interests.
Last week, Trump slapped 25% tariffs on Indian exports to the U.S.; preposterously labeled India, a nation of nearly 1.5 billion people whose economy is one of the world’s growth spots, a “dead economy;” and ordered the Modi government to stop purchasing oil from Russia, “or else.” He doubled-down today on his “orders” to India. Trump railed on his Truth Social account Monday morning, that “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!!! President DJT.”
Today, India’s External Affairs Ministry issued the following blunt statement:
“India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. 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.
“2. 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 criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion.
