Nikki Haley, a prominent Indian-American Republican leader and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, has recently cautioned against the United States straining its relationship with India while seemingly giving China a pass. Her remarks come in the wake of President Trump's criticism of India over tariffs and its purchase of Russian oil, along with threats to raise tariffs substantially.

Haley voiced her concerns via a post on X, stating, "India should not be buying oil from Russia. But China, an adversary and the number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause. Don't give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India". She highlighted what she sees as a double standard in the administration's approach to trade with the two nations. While India faces potential tariff hikes for its energy ties with Russia, China, a major buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, received a tariff pause.

These comments were made shortly after President Trump announced he would raise tariffs on India "very substantially over the next 24 hours" because New Delhi is buying Russian oil and "fueling" the "war machine". Trump also stated that India has not been a "good trading partner".

India has responded to the U.S. and the European Union, calling their targeting of New Delhi for its procurement of Russian crude oil "unjustified and unreasonable". This counterattack came after Trump's assertion that Washington would raise tariffs on goods from India due to its energy ties with Russia.

In contrast to his stance on India, Trump, in an interview with CNBC, spoke positively about China and its leader, Xi Jinping, stating, "We have a very good relationship". He also mentioned the possibility of a meeting with the Chinese President before the end of the year, contingent on a deal being made. "But we're getting very close to a deal. We're getting along with China very well,” Trump said. He added that China is "very reliant" on the U.S.

Haley's stance reflects her long-held belief in strengthening ties between the U.S. and India. She has consistently emphasized the need to counter China's global influence by building closer partnerships with democratic nations in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly India.

Haley served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during Trump's first presidential term, becoming the first Indian-American to hold a cabinet-level position in the U.S. administration. She had announced her candidacy for the 2024 presidential election but withdrew from the race in March of last year.

This recent statement is not the first time Haley has expressed strong views on U.S. policy toward China. As a presidential candidate, she outlined a plan to combat what she sees as the Communist China's threat to the United States. Her plan included measures to ensure China isn't using the U.S. economy to benefit its military and to end the export of sensitive technology to Beijing. She has also advocated for building up the U.S. military and strengthening ties with countries like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines.