Trump Ally On Russian Oil Imports: In a scathing warning that signals growing geopolitical tensions, US Senator and key Donald Trump ally Lindsey Graham has openly threatened India, China, and Brazil with severe economic consequences over their continued oil trade with Russia. Speaking on Fox News, Graham declared that a future Trump administration would impose heavy tariffs possibly up to 100 per cent on countries purchasing Russian oil, saying bluntly, “We’re going to tear up the hell out of you, and we’re going to crush your economy.”
According to Graham, these three nations collectively account for nearly 80 per cent of Russia’s crude oil exports, which he claimed was effectively financing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war in Ukraine. “Trump is going to impose tariffs on people that buy Russian oil… If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we’re going to crush your economy,” he said.
Graham, a prominent Republican senator, had earlier pushed for a bill proposing tariffs as high as 500 per cent on countries continuing trade ties with Russia. In his recent remarks, he also warned Putin directly, stating, “You have played President Trump at your own peril. You made a major league mistake, and your economy is going to continue to be crushed.”
He further accused the Russian President of reviving Cold War-era ambitions: “Putin wants to take countries that are not his. In the mid-90s, Ukraine gave up 1,700 nuclear weapons with a promise that their sovereignty would be respected by Russia. Putin broke that promise.”
India Responds: ‘Energy Needs Are Our Priority’
In response to mounting global scrutiny, including recent warnings from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, India reaffirmed its long-standing position of safeguarding its national interests when it comes to energy procurement.
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“We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate, and I have said this in the past as well, securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated.
He added, “In this endeavour, we are guided by what is there on offer in the markets, as also by prevailing global circumstances. We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter.”
India’s foreign policy, particularly regarding energy security, has consistently underscored the principle of strategic autonomy. While the US intensifies its stance, India appears firm on making sovereign decisions based on domestic priorities and market realities.
