US President Trump issues new threat to India over Russian oil purchases, says he could increase tariffs…

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the country could increase existing tariffs on Indian imports if New Delhi does not cooperate on the “Russian oil issue.” According to agencies, Trump made the remarks during a public address.

Regarding India’s imports of Russian oil, US President Donald Trump said, “They actually wanted to make me happy. PM Modi is a very good man. He’s a good person. He knew I wasn’t happy. It was important to make me happy. We could put tariffs on them very quickly.”

Trump was referring to India’s oil trade with Russia, which his administration has long opposed. The oil trade with Russia was cited as one of the reasons behind the doubling of tariffs on India to 50% in August 2025.

These statements have reignited tensions over India’s energy relations with Russia and come months after Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “assured” him that India would stop buying Russian oil. New Delhi had previously denied this claim, stating that no such conversation had taken place between Trump and Modi.

Russia is the largest supplier of oil to India
Russia is the largest supplier of oil to India. Several officials in the Trump administration had previously alleged that Russia was using the revenue from this oil trade to fuel the war in Ukraine, and that India was also “profiting” and “making billions” by reselling this oil.

Trump’s threat of imposing heavy tariffs on India is largely seen as a tactic to put pressure on Putin.