Tensions in India-US ties, Marco Rubio says India buying Russian oil not the only point of irritation

Declaring that the US has a massive trade deficit with India, Trump had said that while "India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high."

Written by: Nivedita Dash Edited by: Nivedita Dash

Published: August 1, 2025, 10:18 AM IST

Share

Share Article

• Facebook
• WhatsApp
• X
• Email
• Telegram
• Linkedin

https://www.india.com/news/world/tensions-in-india-us-ties-marco-rubio-says-india-buying-russian-oil-not-the-only-point-of-irritation-7983799/ Copy

India buying Russian oil not the only point of irritation, says Marco Rubio

Further escalating the tensions between India-US, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that India’s purchases of Russian oil are helping to sustain Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine and it is “most certainly a point of irritation” in New Delhi’s relationship with Washington, although not the only point of irritation.

“India has huge energy needs and that includes the ability to buy oil and coal and gas and things that it needs to power its economy like every country does, and it buys it from Russia, because Russian oil is sanctioned and cheap. In many cases, they’re selling it under the global price because of the sanctions,” said Rubio.

“Unfortunately, that is helping to sustain the Russian war effort. So it is most certainly a point of irritation in our relationship with India – not the only point of irritation. We also have many other points of cooperation with them,” the US Secretary of State added.

Why White House announced 25% tariff on India?

India will face tariffs of 25 per cent on its exports to the US as President Donald Trump issued an executive order listing the various duties that Washington will impose on exports from countries around the world.

In the Executive Order titled ‘Further Modifying The Reciprocal Tariff Rates’, Trump announced tariff rates for nearly 70 nations.

A 25 per cent “Reciprocal Tariff, Adjusted” has been imposed on India, according to the list released. The executive order however does not mention the “penalty” that Trump had said India will have to pay because of its purchases of Russian military equipment and energy.