Trump argued that his tough trade stance has given Washington both revenue and leverage over adversaries. (Photo: Social Media)
US President Donald Trump has claimed that America’s steep tariffs on India over its import of Russian oil have significantly hurt Moscow’s economy. Speaking from the White House, Trump said Russia was “not doing well” due to global pressures and targeted US trade actions.
“I think Russia has to get back into building its country. It’s a massive country… They have tremendous potential in Russia to do well. They’re not doing well. Their economy is not doing well right now because it’s been very well disturbed by this,” Trump said.
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The US has imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on India, along with an additional 25 per cent levy on its Russian oil imports, making a combined 50 per cent duty.
“Doesn’t help when the President of the United States tells their largest or second-largest oil buyer that we’re putting a 50 per cent tariff on you if you buy oil from Russia. That was a big blow,” Trump added, in an apparent reference to India.
Trump argued that his tough trade stance has given Washington both revenue and leverage over adversaries.
“No one else would have been so tough, and I haven’t stopped there,” he said. He also claimed that tariffs had played a role in resolving multiple international conflicts.
“The tariffs have helped, giving us not only the money, but they also give us great power over enemies. We solved five wars — Pakistan and India. Azerbaijan and Armenia — it was raging for 37 years, and the two leaders got up and they said, we never thought this would be solved. Russia tried to solve it. They all tried to solve it. It was a very tough situation, but we got it done,” Trump said.
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His remarks came days after he described both New Delhi and Moscow as “dead economies.”
When asked about the possibility of normal US–Russia trade relations, Trump said it could happen if Moscow abandoned military aggression.
Russia has a very valuable piece of land. If Vladimir Putin went toward business instead of toward war, you know, it’s a warring nation. That’s what they do. They fight a lot of wars. A friend of mine said Russia is tough because they just keep on fighting. They beat Hitler. So did we,” he noted.
On a potential truce between Russia and Ukraine, Trump signalled a direct approach.
“Well, we’re going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin. And at the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made,” he said.
While Trump focused on the tariffs’ impact on Russia, trade analysts say the measures also send a strong message to India. As one of Moscow’s key oil buyers, New Delhi faces growing pressure from Washington to diversify energy imports.
According to experts, the US may be employing tariffs as a two-pronged strategy, pushing India towards American and allied energy markets while also economically punishing Russia.
India's oil trading strategy and its delicate balancing act between Washington and Moscow may be altered by this approach.
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