In a recent statement, US President Donald Trump indicated that the United States could increase tariffs on Indian goods if India does not address Washington's concerns regarding its continued purchases of Russian oil. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump stated that he expects more support from the Indian government on this issue.

India has emerged as a major buyer of discounted Russian seaborne crude oil since the onset of the Ukraine war in 2022. This has drawn criticism from Western nations, who argue that such trade helps to finance Moscow's war efforts. The US and its allies have imposed sanctions on Russia's energy sector in response to the conflict.

Trump's warning comes amid ongoing, and at times strained, trade negotiations between the US and India. The US has expressed its desire to reduce its trade deficit with India. In the past year, the United States has already doubled import tariffs on some Indian goods, with administration officials linking the move partly to India's significant intake of discounted Russian crude. Negotiations between the two countries have faced challenges, including disagreements over market access for US agricultural products.

Despite ongoing discussions and contact between President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's Russian oil purchases remain a sticking point. While Trump claimed in October that Modi had pledged to halt Russian oil imports, New Delhi has publicly resisted US pressure, asserting that these supplies are crucial for India's energy security.