- By Ajeet Kumar
- Sat, 13 Sep 2025 07:07 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Hours after US President Donald Trump stated in a Fox News interview that US tariffs on Indian goods caused a "rift" with India, he spared New Delhi while announcing a fresh 50 to 100 per cent NATO tariffs on China. Trump posted a long message on his social media platform on Saturday, Truth Social, and said he believes the Russia-Ukraine war would end if all NATO countries stopped buying oil from Russia and placed tariffs on China of 50 per cent to 100 per cent for its purchases of Russian petroleum.
The US president has already placed a 50 per cent import tax on goods from India for its buying of Russian energy products. In his post, Trump said responsibility for the war fell on his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He did not include in that list Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched the invasion.
NATO member buying Russian oil: Trump
Tump posted on his social media site that NATO'S commitment to winning the war "has been far less than 100%" and the purchase of Russian oil by some members of the alliance is “shocking.” As if speaking to them, he said, “It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia.”
NATO member Turkiye has been the third-largest buyer of Russian oil, after China and India, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Other members of the 32-state alliance involved in purchasing Russian oil include Hungary and Slovakia.
Are relations between India and US returning to normal?
Trump has faced criticism for not imposing tariffs on China, which remains the largest buyer of Russian oil, but slapped massive tariffs on New Delhi. The US President, who has been vocal against New Delhi’s close relations with Moscow, took a soft turn last week. He said that a trade deal would be coming soon and he would speak to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a reply, PM Modi also vowed to boost India-US relations and expressed optimism in signing a trade deal with America. Moreover, today’s Trump’s post hinted at the relations between the two nations are gradually improving.
Why is Trump latest warning crucial
The letter comes at a tense moment in the conflict after the recent flight of multiple Russian drones into Poland, an escalatory move by Russia as it was entering the airspace of NATO ally. Poland shot down the drones. It also comes as the Congress is trying to get him behind a bill toughening sanctions.
Trump in his post said that a NATO ban on Russian oil plus tariffs on China would “also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR.”
The president said that NATO members should put the 50 per cent to 100 per cent tariffs on China and withdraw them if the war that launched with Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine ends. “China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia," he posted, and powerful tariffs “will break that grip.”
(With inputs from agency)