U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to sharply increase tariffs on India, accusing New Delhi of profiting from the resale of Russian oil while turning a blind eye to the ongoing war in Ukraine. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Monday, Mr. Trump said: “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,” the president added. The remarks come amid growing scrutiny from the Trump administration over India’s energy ties with Moscow, which have remained robust despite Western sanctions against Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. On Sunday, Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff and a close aide to Mr. Trump, echoed the president’s sentiments, suggesting that India’s purchases amounted to indirect support for Russia’s war effort. “What he [President Trump] said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing oil from Russia,” Mr. Miller told reporters in Washington.

India has consistently defended its energy strategy, stating that its imports are guided by national interest and economic needs, and noting that it has remained in dialogue with all key partners, including the United States. The proposed tariff hike marks a sharp escalation in trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi and comes at a time when both nations had been seeking to deepen strategic ties, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. There has been no immediate response from the Indian government. However, analysts say Mr. Trump’s statement is likely to provoke concern in New Delhi, especially given India’s dependence on exports to the U.S. and the broader implications for the bilateral relationship.