'The way Trump has spoken about PM Modi...': Former US official warns against 50% tariffs on India

Former US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell - File Photo

After US President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, citing New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian crude, criticism has poured in from across the American political spectrum.

In an interview with CNBC International, former US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell warned that the move could seriously damage one of Washington’s most vital partnerships. “America’s most important relationship in the 21st century is with India. Much of that is now at risk,” Campbell said. “The way President Trump has spoken about India and PM Modi has put the Indian government in a difficult position.”

Offering blunt advice to New Delhi, Campbell added: “Prime Minister Modi should not bend the knee to President Trump.” He cautioned that pressuring India to downgrade its ties with Moscow could backfire. “If you tell India that it has to sacrifice its relationship with Russia, then Indian strategists are going to do the exact opposite,” he said.

Campbell stressed that in areas such as technology, education, and military cooperation, “the most important relationship for the United States going into the 21st century” is with India — and “much of that is now at risk.”

On Thursday, the US State Department reiterated that “India is a strategic partner” and said Washington was engaging in “full and frank dialogue” with New Delhi, even as tensions rise over the tariff dispute.

Earlier in the day, Trump ruled out trade negotiations with India until the tariff issue is resolved, following his administration’s decision to double duties on Indian imports.

Indian-American Republican leader Nikki Haley had on Tuesday said that the US should not burn its relationship with a “strong ally like India” and give a pass to China.

“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," Haley said in a post on X.

"Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India,” she said.

India on Monday mounted an unusually sharp counterattack on the US and the European Union for their "unjustified and unreasonable" targeting of New Delhi for its procurement of Russian crude oil.

New Delhi's response came after Trump asserted that Washington will substantially raise tariffs on goods from India over its energy ties with Russia.

Days after imposing a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports to the US, Trump has imposed an additional tariff of 25 per cent on New Delhi, citing its purchase of Russian crude, taking the total levy to 50 per cent.