‘India buying Russian oil a point of irritation’: Rubio backs Trump’s 25% tariff move

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio

India’s continued purchases of Russian oil are “most certainly a point of irritation” in its relationship with the US, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, a day after President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from India starting August 1.

"Look, global trade – India is an ally. It’s a strategic partner. Like anything in foreign policy, you’re not going to align 100 per cent of the time on everything,” Rubio said in an interview with Fox Radio.

Rubio acknowledged India has “huge energy needs and that includes the ability to buy oil and coal and gas and things that it needs to power its economy like every country does, and it buys it from Russia, because Russian oil is sanctioned and cheap and – meaning they have to – in many cases, they’re selling it under the global price because of the sanctions.”

He added that "unfortunately, that is helping to sustain the Russian war effort. So it is most certainly a point of irritation in our relationship with India, not the only point of irritation. We also have many other points of cooperation with them. "But I think what you’re seeing the President express is the very clear frustration that with so many other oil vendors available, India continues to buy so much from Russia, which in essence is helping to fund the war effort”, and allowing this war to continue in Ukraine.

The sharp remarks come amid rising tensions between Washington and New Delhi, with Trump’s latest tariff move being widely seen as a pressure tactic to force India into compliance on key US concerns, particularly over trade and defence purchases.

In addition to the 25 per cent tariff, Trump also announced an unspecified penalty for India’s continued purchases of Russian crude oil and military equipment. The former president is said to be frustrated that “with so many other oil vendors available, India continues to buy so much from Russia,” Rubio said.

India has said it will take all necessary steps to safeguard and promote national interest and that the implications of the tariffs are being examined.