Trump warns of raising India tariffs 'substantially' over profiting from Russian oil

US President Donald Trump has sharply criticised India for allegedly profiting off Russian oil amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, and announced plans to “substantially” raise tariffs on Indian imports to the United States.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused India of buying “massive amounts of Russian oil” and then reselling it on the open market for “big profits.” He claimed India was unconcerned with the human toll of the conflict in Ukraine, stating, “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine.”

Trump concluded the post by declaring his intention to impose higher tariffs on Indian goods entering the US, saying: “Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.”

Trump last week labeled Russia and US ally India "dead economies," indicating that his threat to ramp up tariffs on New Delhi will now go ahead. "I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care," he wrote in a Truth Social post.

Trump's criticism of India follows his announcement that India will face 25 percent tariffs, while also announcing an unspecified "penalty" over New Delhi's purchases of Russian weapons and energy.

The 25 percent tariff on India would be marginally lower than the rate announced in April, but is higher than those of other Asian countries that have struck preliminary trade agreements with Washington.

India, the world's most populous country, was one of the first few major economies to engage the Trump administration in broader trade talks.

But six months later, Trump's sweeping demands and India's reluctance to fully open its agricultural and dairy sectors have so far prevented New Delhi from sealing a deal.

India has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine war and ramped up its purchases of discounted Russian crude since early 2022. Much of that oil, once refined in Indian facilities, is re-exported to Western markets, including the US and Europe -- a practice that has drawn criticism from some American lawmakers and analysts who say it circumvents sanctions.