Tensions between India and the United States over trade and energy policies have intensified following a pointed threat by US President Donald Trump to impose punitive tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil. In response, the US State Department, in its official media briefing, chose not to directly address India&rsquo;s reaction.
State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce deflected a question about External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar&rsquo;s veiled criticism of Trump's remarks, stating, &ldquo;I will not characterise or remark on another nation's comments about what they will or will not do,&rdquo; adding with irony, &ldquo;I can barely do that here.&rdquo; Her comments came amid growing global attention on Trump&rsquo;s proposal to slap secondary tariffs on India within 24 hours, alleging that New Delhi was &ldquo;fueling the Russian war machine&rdquo; by purchasing and refining discounted oil from Moscow. Trump had already announced a 25% tariff plan and warned India of further action.
India, without naming Trump, had issued a firm rebuttal. Jaishankar emphasized the need for a fair global order, saying, &ldquo;We live in complicated and uncertain times. Our collective desire is to see a fair and representative global order, not one dominated by a few.&rdquo;
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) underlined the country&rsquo;s commitment to safeguarding its national interests and called out the West&rsquo;s hypocrisy. It noted that while India was being singled out, the European Union&rsquo;s trade with Russia stood at $67.5 billion, and the US itself continues to import Russian uranium, palladium, and fertilisers.
Former US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, also criticized the Trump administration&rsquo;s stance, pointing out the evident double standards. &ldquo;China, the top buyer of Russian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause. Don&rsquo;t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India,&rdquo; she posted on X.
Meanwhile, Bruce defended the use of economic pressure as a strategic tool. &ldquo;President Trump has many tools in his tool chest. As a businessman, he understands that the economy is the battleground. Tariffs are one of those tools,&rdquo; she said, implying that secondary sanctions may be used to exert influence on global conflicts.
As geopolitical and trade dynamics shift, New Delhi appears resolute in maintaining strategic autonomy in its energy policies, while Washington balances political narratives with economic interests in the run-up to the US presidential elections.

State Dept skips remark on India’s reply to Trump’s Russian oil tariff warning

US silent on India's Tariff Response

State Dept skips remark on India’s reply to Trump’s Russian oil tariff warning

August 6, 2025 | 09:18 IST