Denis Alipov: U.S. "planting a time bomb" with tariffs on India

By ramontomeydw // 2025-08-01

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Denis Alipov, Russia's ambassador to India, warned that U.S. punitive tariffs over New Delhi's ties with Moscow harm U.S.-India relations, calling the U.S. an "unreliable partner" and accusing Washington of undermining its own strategic interests.
New Delhi refuses to abandon Russian oil and defense ties, viewing them as critical to its energy security and foreign policy, despite U.S. pressure to isolate Moscow over the Ukraine war.
President Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, citing India's trade imbalances and purchases of Russian oil/weapons, framing it as enabling Russia's war effort. India vowed to protect its interests while assessing the tariff’s impact.
The move reflects broader tensions, with India resisting Western coercion and maintaining historic ties to Russia. Trump's combative rhetoric contrasts with past warmth under Modi, straining U.S.-India relations amid trade and immigration disputes.
Analysts warn Trump's tariffs could spur inflation and slow growth, while alienating India – a key partner in countering China and Russia. India's skepticism of Western reliability grows, forcing delicate maneuvering in a polarized geopolitical landscape.

Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov has remarked that the U.S.'s punitive tariffs against India over New Delhi's relations with Moscow would only cause more harm than good. He voiced out this observation in an interview with Russia Today, noting that the West is "planting a time bomb under its own relations with India" by prioritizing sanctions over diplomacy. Alipov continued that the punitive measures "only further highlight the unreliability of the U.S. as a partner." The diplomat noted that New Delhi cannot sacrifice its ties with either the U.S. or Russia. However, its reliance on Moscow's oil and gas means foreign policy calculations will hinge on sustaining those flows. Ultimately, Alipov rebuked Washington for "infringing on the interests of not only Russia, but also of one of its crucial trading partners." His comments come amid the escalating clash between Washington and New Delhi over the latter's energy and defense ties with Moscow. India, the world's third-largest oil consumer, has refused to abandon Russian supplies – even as the U.S. seeks to isolate Moscow over its war in Ukraine. Given this, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a steep 25 percent tariff on Indian goods alongside undisclosed penalties. He justified this levy by citing New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil and military hardware. "While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs [on American goods] are far too high," Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday, July 30, alongside the announcement of the new tariff.

India's conundrum: Defy the U.S. or abandon Russian crude?

The dispute underscores a broader geopolitical rift, with Trump’s abrupt announcement of the levy marking a sharp escalation in a long-simmering trade dispute. But beyond trade imbalances, the president framed India’s dealings with Russia as enabling the Ukraine conflict, declaring Moscow and India could "take their dead economies down together for all I care." The combative rhetoric drew a measured response from New Delhi, which vowed to protect its national interests while studying the tariff's implications. But for India, the stakes extend far beyond trade figures.. The European Union's 18th sanctions package targeting India's Rosneft-linked Vadinar refinery, alongside Trump's tariffs, have only deepened skepticism of Western reliability. " Historically, India has resisted Western pressure to sever ties with Moscow, a relationship dating back to Cold War-era defense cooperation. While Trump's first term saw warm relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recent friction over trade and immigration – coupled with Modi's rejection of Trump's claims about mediating the 2019 India-Pakistan conflict – has strained the partnership. Economically, Trump's tariffs risk backfiring. While he touts them as tools to rebalance trade and boost domestic jobs, analysts warn of inflationary spillover and slower growth as import costs ripple through supply chains. (Related: Trump administration engages 130 nations in trade talks to reshape global tariffs amid China tensions.) The showdown encapsulates a paradox of Trump's "America First" doctrine. Coercive tactics may alienate the very partners needed to check Russian and Chinese power. For India, hedging between competing blocs is nothing new – but the Trump administration's hardline stance leaves little room for maneuver. Watch retired Indian ambassador Anil Trigunayat reiterating that India will continue to buy oil from where it is best for its own national interest. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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India's conundrum: Defy the U.S. or abandon Russian crude?

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