India rejects criticism of its business dealings with Russia as \u2018unreasonable\u2019, vowing to safeguard its own interests.<\/p>\n
Washington, DC \u2013 United States President Donald Trump<\/a> says he will \u201csubstantially\u201d raise tariffs on India, intensifying the row between the two countries after years of rapprochement.<\/p>\n Trump accused India in a social media post on Monday of buying and reselling \u201cmassive amounts\u201d of Russian oil \u201cfor big profits\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,\u201d the US president wrote. \u201cBecause of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!\u201d<\/p>\n He did not specify the rate of the tariffs or when they would take effect. The US imported $87.4bn in Indian goods in 2024, according to US government data.<\/p>\n Last week, Trump announced 25 percent tariffs<\/a> on Indian goods, citing New Delhi\u2019s levies on US products and purchases of Russian oil and military equipment.<\/p>\n Later on Monday, India rejected Western criticism of its business dealings with Russia, noting that the US and European countries have continued to import Russian goods and energy products after the war.<\/p>\n India\u2019s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi\u2019s imports \u201care meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIn this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable,\u201d Jaiswal said in a statement. \u201cLike any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), India has been buying Russian oil at a discount since the start of the war in Ukraine<\/a> in 2022, which unleashed heavy Western sanctions on Russia, including its energy sector.<\/p>\n India increased its purchases of Russian oil more than sixfold after the conflict broke out, an EIA report said.<\/p>\n On Saturday, India\u2019s Jaiswal suggested that his country would maintain its relations with Russia despite Trump\u2019s criticisms.<\/p>\n \u201cOur bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country,\u201d Jaiswal told reporters. \u201cIndia and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n While campaigning last year, Trump promised to bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine, but the conflict continues to rage on more than six months into his presidency.<\/p>\n Trump initially took a neutral approach to try to mediate an end to the war, but in recent weeks, he has been increasingly critical of Russia and has threatened further sanctions against Moscow.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n