The recent decision by US President Donald Trump to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent has triggered a storm of speculation in global diplomatic circles. While Washington has cited India’s continued purchase of Russian oil as the official reason, leading Russian media outlets claim the real motive lies elsewhere, and it is rooted in geopolitics, not energy trade.
According to Russia’s state news agency TASS, Washington’s oil argument is only a façade. Citing political expert Andrey Sushentsov, a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Russia’s Security Council, the report said that Trump’s real objective is to push India into abandoning its independent foreign policy and aligning more closely with American strategic interests, particularly against China. “India can never follow American foreign policy under pressure from Donald Trump or his tariffs. This has always failed in the case of India. The real reason is that the US wants India to accept its leadership,” Sushentsov said, adding that such pressure will not last long.
Why Only India? Russian Media Raises Questions
The Moscow Times highlighted a key fact that, among all countries buying oil from Russia, only India has faced such steep tariffs from the US. Former UK ambassador to Ukraine Leigh Turner wrote that Trump did not impose duties on European nations importing Russian oil, nor did he directly target Russia’s tankers, banks, or refineries involved in the trade. The article speculated that the tariff move could be linked to the upcoming Trump–Putin summit in Alaska on August 15, suggesting the possibility of a behind-the-scenes deal that might overlook Ukraine’s territorial claims in exchange for broader strategic concessions.
Report By The Moscow Times.
According to a report from Euroserbia.net, editor Constantin von Hofmeister said that trade between Russia and India has grown from USD 13 billion in 2021–22 to USD 68 billion in 2024–25. Crucially, 90 per cent of this trade is now conducted in local currencies, bypassing the US dollar and the Western banking system entirely.“This shift away from dollar dependence is one of the major factors irking Washington,” the article argued, hinting that the tariffs could be an attempt to disrupt this growing economic independence.
Report by the Euroserbia.net.
On the other hand, Sputnik News quoted Dmitry Kiselev, Director General of the Russian Media Group Segodnya, saying India has always maintained a balanced and logical stand in its relations with Russia, regardless of Western pressure. “India has never come under anyone’s pressure and will never come,” Kiselev said, stressing the deep trust between the citizens of both nations.
Economic Impact On Indian Exports
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a firm rebuttal to Washington’s decision, calling the tariffs “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” Officials stressed that India’s energy purchases are market-driven and vital to ensuring affordable energy for 1.4 billion citizens. The MEA also accused the West of double standards, pointing out that European trade with Russia in 2024 exceeded India’s, and that the US itself continues to import key commodities from Moscow, including uranium and palladium.
ALSO READ: ‘India Is A Great Power’: US Economist Slams Trump’s Tariffs On Indian Goods, Calls It Unconstitutional
The combined 50 per cent duty could cost Indian exporters up to USD 18 billion annually, affecting textiles, pharmaceuticals, auto parts, and electronics, key sectors in India’s trade with its largest export market. The US accounted for USD 87 billion in Indian exports last year, out of total bilateral trade of over USD 190 billion. Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs Chairperson Shashi Tharoor suggested that the additional 25 per cent tariff could be removed if the Russia–Ukraine conflict ends. With Trump scheduled to meet both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, there is speculation that the tariff escalation could be reversed.
ALSO READ: ‘Big Blow To Moscow’: Trump Labels US Tariffs On Indian Oil Imports From Russia A Strategic Move Against Putin
For Russian media, the conclusion is clear that oil is merely the stated reason, but the true aim is to shift India closer to Washington’s strategic orbit and weaken New Delhi’s deepening partnership with Moscow. As the world watches the high-stakes Alaska summit, the unanswered question remains: Will the tariffs vanish with a peace deal, or are they a pressure tool for something far bigger than oil?