India presents itself as one of America’s closest allies, but according to a senior aide to former President Donald Trump, it imposes high tariffs, engages in questionable immigration practices, and continues to buy oil from Russia — effectively funding the war in Ukraine.
In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Trump’s White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller, criticised India’s actions, saying that Trump has made it clear that it is unacceptable for India to keep funding the war by purchasing Russian oil.
“Many would be surprised to know that India is nearly on par with China when it comes to buying oil from Russia,” Miller said. He called this an “astonishing fact.”
He went on to say, “India claims to be one of our strongest allies, yet it doesn’t open its markets to American goods, slaps massive tariffs on imports from the U.S., and is also known to violate immigration policies, which ends up harming American workers. And then, of course, there’s the continued oil trade with Russia.”
Miller added that while Trump has always enjoyed a strong relationship with India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it’s time for the U.S. to take a hard look at how this relationship may be enabling the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“President Trump is keeping all options open — diplomatic, financial, and otherwise — to address the war in Ukraine and push for peace, a war which the Democratic Party and President Joe Biden are responsible for escalating,” Miller said.
Just a few days ago, Trump had remarked that the United States maintains a significant trade deficit with India. He said that although India is considered a friend, trade has remained limited due to India’s extremely high tariffs and its strict non-monetary trade barriers, which he described as “the most strenuous and obnoxious” in the world.
Trump also criticised India’s long-standing dependence on Russian military equipment and energy. He pointed out that India, alongside China, remains one of Russia’s biggest energy buyers at a time when global efforts are focused on pressuring Moscow to stop the war in Ukraine. “These are not good signs,” Trump said.
He further stated that as a result of these actions, India would be subject to a 25% tariff, along with additional penalties, beginning August 1.
Trump didn’t stop there. He took a jab at both India and Russia, saying that if their economic relationship continues as it is, they risk dragging their “dead economies” down together.
Responding to Trump’s comments in Parliament, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal defended India’s position, noting that India is currently the world’s fastest-growing major economy and is widely expected to become the third-largest economy in the coming years.
Goyal emphasised that India would take all necessary measures to protect its national interest and that the impact of US tariffs was being carefully reviewed.
