• Source:JND
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US President Donald Trump has ignited a fresh controversy by accusing India of financing Russia’s war in Ukraine through the purchase and resale of Russian oil. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump vowed to "substantially raise the tariff paid by India to the USA", blaming the country for enabling the Kremlin’s war machine.

“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,” Trump wrote. “Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!”

White House Aide Echoes Trump’s Concerns

Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff and one of his closest aides, reinforced the message in a Fox News interview. “What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia,” Miller said.

India is currently the second-largest buyer of Russian oil, after China. Before the Ukraine war began in 2022, Russia supplied only about 1 per cent of India’s oil imports. That figure has since surged to over 30 per cent, offering a major revenue stream to Moscow despite Western sanctions. India’s strategy of refining and reselling some of the discounted Russian crude on the global market has drawn criticism from several US policymakers.

Trump's remarks signal a hardening stance towards India as he prepares for a potential return to the White House in the 2025 election. This is not the first time he has targeted India over its ties with Russia. He had earlier warned of additional penalties for India’s purchase of Russian arms and oil and expressed displeasure over its participation in BRICS, even going so far as to label India a “dead economy.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Varanasi, issued a call for reviving the Swadeshi (self-reliance) spirit, urging citizens to support locally made products amid growing global uncertainty. “As the world economy enters a phase of instability and unpredictability, it’s time every Indian rises above politics and supports the local economy,” Modi said.