Moscow has publicly defended India’s right to trade with whomever it chooses, with the Kremlin calling US President Donald Trump’s threats of revised tariffs “illegal.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that “sovereign countries should have and do have the right to choose their own trading partners.”
Trump’s warning came in a social media post where he accused India of buying cheap Russian oil and reselling it for “big profits.” He connected this trade to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and threatened to “substantially” raise tariffs on Indian goods, a measure that would follow the 25% tariffs already in effect on August 1.
India’s government also pushed back with a strong-worded statement from its Ministry of External Affairs. It accused the US and EU of “unjustified and unreasonable” targeting and affirmed its commitment to protecting its “national interests and economic security,” a clear message that it will not be swayed by external pressure.
The diplomatic spat highlights a growing alignment between Russia and India in the face of what they see as coercive US foreign policy. Both nations are asserting their right to strategic autonomy and independent decision-making, creating a complex and challenging landscape for global diplomacy.
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