US Senator Lindsey Graham has claimed that Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra asked him to convey a request to former President Donald Trump to “relieve the tariff” imposed on India over Russian oil purchases.
Graham, speaking to reporters alongside Trump on Air Force One on Sunday, said the request was made during a meeting at India House, the ambassador’s official residence in Washington, last month. “All he wanted to talk about was how they are buying less Russian oil,” Graham said.
The Republican senator, who supports legislation to impose tariffs of up to 500% on countries continuing to buy Russian oil, added that Kwatra reportedly asked, “Would you tell the President to relieve the tariff?” Graham argued that the measure was intended to give Trump leverage, and claimed India’s reduced Russian oil imports were influenced by these discussions.
Trump also commented on India’s purchases of Russian oil, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi knew he was “not happy” with them. Trump noted that tariffs on India could be raised quickly and described this as potentially “very bad” for the country.
India buys around 88% of its crude oil from overseas and became the largest buyer of discounted Russian crude after Western nations curtailed imports following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Indian government has maintained that its purchases are necessary to ensure “predictable and affordable energy” for consumers and described criticism from other nations as “unjustified and unreasonable.”
No immediate comment was available from Ambassador Kwatra or other Indian officials regarding Graham’s claims.
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