NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte on Thursday claimed that tariffs imposed by the United States have prompted India to demand an explanation from Russia regarding its Ukraine war strategy. Speaking to CNN on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Rutte said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called Russian President Vladimir Putin about the matter.
“Trump’s tariffs on India are having a big impact on Russia. Delhi is on the phone with Putin, and Narendra Modi is asking him to explain his strategy on Ukraine because India is being hit with tariffs,” Rutte said.
US Tariffs Target India’s Russian Oil Purchases
Last month, US President Donald Trump imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on India, along with an additional 25% penalty for purchasing Russian oil. The US administration said the measures were designed to discourage India from importing Russian energy, which Washington argues indirectly supports Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine.
Trump also called for NATO countries to impose tariffs on China and reduce their reliance on Russian oil. He further indicated that he is prepared to impose “major sanctions” on Russia once all NATO allies coordinate to stop buying Russian energy.
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The Indian government has criticised the US tariffs as unjustified, stressing that its Russian oil imports are crucial to provide affordable energy for its 1.4 billion citizens amid global supply disruptions. The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that, unlike India, both the United States and the European Union continue to maintain substantial trade with Russia without the same level of strategic necessity.
Amid these tensions, India and the US recently held trade talks in New York, led by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, to address tariff-related disputes.
There was no immediate response from New Delhi or Moscow to Rutte’s remarks.
