Washington, July 31 — Just hours after announcing a steep 25% tariff on Indian imports, US President Donald Trump issued a fresh rebuke of India’s growing ties with Russia, stating bluntly that he doesn’t care what New Delhi does with Moscow.
“I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care,” Trump posted on his social media platform Wednesday morning.
The comment has triggered sharp reactions globally, further escalating tensions in the already strained India-US trade and diplomatic relationship.
Sharp Turn in Tone Toward India
Trump’s remarks come a day after he imposed new import tariffs on India, citing what he called “obnoxious” trade barriers. India, which he had previously referred to as a “friend,” is now facing blunt criticism over its strategic and commercial proximity to Russia.
Over the past two years, India has deepened energy cooperation with Moscow, significantly increasing purchases of Russian oil and defense equipment — a stance the US has repeatedly raised concerns over, particularly in the context of Western sanctions on Russia following its war in Ukraine.
Strategic Triangle in the Crosshairs
By linking the economic trajectories of India and Russia, Trump appears to be signaling a major hardening of his stance on countries that maintain open economic and diplomatic channels with Moscow. His language — calling both economies “dead” — is being interpreted by analysts as a warning not just to India, but to other US partners exploring non-Western alliances.
While Trump did not elaborate on whether more trade actions would follow, the comment suggests India may be facing wider diplomatic fallout unless it rebalances its global partnerships.
India Yet to Respond Officially
As of publication, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had not commented on Trump’s remarks. However, Indian strategic analysts say the rhetoric is unlikely to change New Delhi’s current approach, which prioritizes multi-alignment—engaging with the US, Russia, and others simultaneously to preserve strategic autonomy.
What’s at Stake
India and the US have built strong defense, technology, and energy ties over the past decade, but trade frictions, visa issues, and now differing geopolitical alignments are testing that partnership.
This week’s events — a fresh tariff, harsh words, and implied diplomatic warning — could mark a shift in how the next phase of India-US relations will unfold, especially with the US entering an election cycle and India holding fast to its diversified global posture.