Trump Caught Off Guard as India Slams US Over Russian Trade Ties.
In a tense exchange captured on camera Tuesday, former US President Donald Trump was visibly caught off guard when asked about India’s sharp response to his criticism of New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
During a media interaction, a journalist from India’s ANI news agency questioned Trump about the perceived double standards in US foreign policy, citing ongoing American imports of Russian uranium and fertilizers even as Washington criticizes India for its energy ties with Moscow.
“I don’t know anything about it. I’ll have to check… but we will get back to you on this,” Trump responded, appearing unprepared for the question.
India Pushes Back
The moment followed a strong rebuttal from New Delhi to Trump’s comments earlier in the week. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused India of profiting from Russian oil purchases and announced plans to “substantially” raise tariffs on Indian goods in retaliation.
“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits,” Trump wrote. “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine.”
New Delhi fired back, accusing the United States and its European allies of hypocrisy. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a pointed statement highlighting that the US itself continues to import enriched uranium and chemical fertilizers from Russia — items critical to its own energy and agricultural sectors.
Calling Out Western Hypocrisy
The MEA emphasized that India’s purchases from Russia are rooted in national interest and energy security, and warned against selective outrage.
“India will take all necessary steps to protect its economic and strategic interests,” the MEA said, while noting that both the US and EU maintain substantial trade with Moscow despite their public condemnation of the Ukraine conflict.
According to Indian officials, the European Union’s trade with Russia in 2023 included €67.5 billion worth of goods and €17.2 billion in services — far exceeding India’s trade volume with Moscow.
Growing Tensions Ahead of Elections
The episode comes at a time when India-US relations are under increasing scrutiny, especially with major elections looming in both countries. Washington’s stance on India’s ties with Russia has repeatedly sparked friction, but New Delhi has stood firm, asserting its right to an independent foreign policy.
Trump’s tariff threat and India’s fiery response could add further strain to bilateral relations — and signal deeper geopolitical rifts ahead.
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