Tensions between India and the United States are escalating over India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil. As a result, US President Donald Trump has imposed steep tariffs on Indian exports. In a bold countermove, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India by year’s end, as quoted by Russia’s Interfax news agency.
Initially, it was said that Putin would be visiting India by the end of August. Later, the Interfax news agency corrected this, stating that the Russian president will be visiting only by the end of the year. However, the news has not been confirmed by either the Indian or Russian governments.
Ajit Doval’s visit to Moscow coincided with the visit of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who held talks with Putin over the war in Ukraine. Doval’s talks are known to have covered India-Russia security and defence ties, including the delivery of much-delayed Russian platforms like the S-400 air defence batteries. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, India and nations like China have been buying discounted Russian oil. Now, Trump has targeted India with steep tariffs.
Donald Trump is upset with India for buying oil from Russia and has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods. At this time, Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to visit India. This visit was not announced before the tariffs were put in place. Because of this, Putin’s visit is likely to make Trump even angrier. However, PM Modi had stated on Thursday that India won’t be sacrificing their farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers. He also added that India is ready for it and will face it.
Since 2022, when Russia began a full-scale war in Ukraine, India and countries like China have been buying discounted oil from Russia. Former US President Donald Trump has accused India of helping fund Russia’s war by continuing these purchases. Although other countries are doing the same, Trump has singled out India and responded by imposing extremely high tariffs on Indian exports.
India and the United States are currently negotiating a free trade agreement. India wants to exclude politically sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy from the deal, as it has done in trade agreements with other countries such as the United Kingdom. However, former US President Donald Trump has insisted on including these sectors. He has also pushed for India to allow the import of American genetically modified (GM) crops. At present, India does not consider GM crops legal, except for cotton.
