Nikki Haley Urges India to Address Russian Oil Imports Amid US-India Tensions
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations and Indian-American Republican, Nikki Haley, on Sunday warned India over its Russian oil imports, urging New Delhi to work with the White House “sooner rather than later” to resolve the issue.
In a post on X, Haley wrote:
“India must take Trump’s point over Russian oil seriously, and work with the White House to find a solution. Decades of friendship and goodwill between the world’s two largest democracies provide a solid basis to move past the current turbulence. Navigating issues like trade disagreements and Russian oil imports demands hard dialogue.”
Haley emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on shared strategic goals, particularly in countering China:
“We should not lose sight of what matters most: our shared goals. To face China, the United States must have a friend in India.”
In a recent Newsweek op-ed, Haley cautioned that US-India ties are nearing a breaking point and highlighted the need to restore relations to address China’s growing global influence. She stressed that India should not be treated as an adversary, and issues like tariffs or US involvement in India-Pakistan matters must not drive a wedge between the two democracies.
Tensions escalated recently after the Trump administration imposed secondary tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil and over disputes regarding New Delhi’s stance on US mediation in the India-Pakistan conflict. Tariffs on Indian exports now exceed 50%, the highest under the Trump administration outside of Brazil.
India condemned the move as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”, warning of potential impacts on key sectors such as textiles and marine exports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to protecting farmers and fishermen, stating he was prepared to bear the cost to safeguard their interests.
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