In a move straight out of a geopolitical thriller, former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited trade tensions by threatening to "substantially raise" tariffs on Indian goods. The reason? India’s continued purchase of Russian oil amid global sanctions. 💥
"India is buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling it for big profits," Trump claimed in a social media post, doubling down on his July announcement of 25% tariffs on Indian imports. New Delhi fired back, calling the threats "unjustified" and vowing to protect its economic interests. 🛡️
Why the standoff? India has become the world’s top buyer of Russian seaborne crude this year, importing 1.75 million barrels daily. With traditional suppliers diverting oil to Europe post-Ukraine conflict, India argues its Russian imports are a "necessity" driven by market realities. 🌏⚖️
But there’s irony here: India’s foreign ministry pointed out that Western nations criticizing them also trade with Russia. The EU, for instance, remains a key buyer of Russian LNG. 🤷♂️
As Trump sets a Friday deadline for new sanctions, all eyes are on whether this clash will derail U.S.-India relations – or become another chapter in the global energy chessboard. ♟️
