A senior member of US President Donald Trump's administration has initiated a strong attack on India, accusing it of charging high tariffs to American goods, abusing the US immigration system, and persisting in purchasing oil from Russia—thus supporting Moscow's war in Ukraine.
The attack comes as part of increasing American attempts to pressure New Delhi to sever economic links with the Kremlin.
Stephen Miller, Trump's most powerful staffer and deputy White House chief of staff, expressed such worries in an appearance on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures.
"What he (Trump) has said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to go on subsidizing this war by buying the oil from Russia.People will be shocked to know that India is actually up there with China in the buying of Russian oil. That is a shocking fact," Miller added, venting annoyance at India's Russian energy imports.
His words are one of the strongest so far from the Trump administration regarding India—a very important strategic ally for the US in the Indo-Pacific.
Evidently undeterred by the backlash, Miller emphasized that President Trump cherishes his relationship with India and its leadership.
"He desires an incredible relationship and has always had an incredible relationship with India," Miller stated. "But we need to get real about negotiating the financing of this war.So, President Trump, all options are on the table to negotiate diplomatically, financially and otherwise the war continuing to be waged in Ukraine, so that we can obtain peace."
Indian authorities have revealed that their policy on importing oil from Russia will not change. There has been no direction given to oil refineries—either state or private—to stop buying from Moscow, according to government officials quoted by Bloomberg. Procurement of crude is a business decision, and firms can purchase from any seller best suited to their requirements.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a strong stand at the weekend, subtly rebuffing US pressure and stressing Indian economic interests to be given priority in times of global uncertainty.
"The global economy is undergoing lots of fears - there is an instability environment," Modi stated at a rally in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. "Now, whatever we purchase, there should be one scale only: we will purchase those items which have been produced through the toil of an Indian."
The frustration with India has been increasing in the administration in recent weeks. Only a few days back, Trump signed a 25 percent tariff on Indian imports into the United States. The officials have signaled that more actions might be taken if India continues its current level of oil commerce with Russia.
India is now firmly in Trump's sights as the US president ups his efforts to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin and bring an end to the raging war. Trump also criticizes New Delhi amid his general disapproval of India's close ties with Russia and membership in the BRICS group.
"They can take their dead economies with them," Trump declared last week, in reference to India's joining up with the BRICS group and Russia.
This tough talk is a major break from the US's previous approach, which had largely tolerated India's long tradition of engagement with Moscow in a bid to strengthen India as a strategic counter to China. Now, that policy seems to be changing, with Trump seemingly willing to risk those relationships to ratchet up diplomatic and economic pressure on the Kremlin.
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