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A 2024 video of former US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has resurfaced online, revealing that Washington had encouraged Delhi to buy Russian oil within
a price cap to help stabilize global prices. In the video, Garcetti said, “They bought Russian oil because we wanted somebody to buy Russian oil at a price cap; that was not a violation. It was actually the design of the policy… and they fulfilled that.” However, Times Now independently could not verify the video.
Trump’s ‘Substantial Tariff’ Warning To India
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that he will “substantially” raise tariffs on Indian imports within the next 24 hours. This came after the US had imposed a flat 25% duty on Indian goods. Trump criticised India for continuing to buy Russian oil and defence products, saying the purchases are “fueling the war machine” in Ukraine.
Speaking to CNBC, Trump said, “India has not been a good trading partner because they do a lot of business with us, but we don't do business with them. So we settled on 25 percent, but I think I'm going to raise that rate quite substantially in the next 24 hours.”
India’s Position Backed By Past US Statements
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had also confirmed earlier that the US had urged India to buy Russian oil within the price cap to avoid global price spikes. “If people or countries had stopped buying at that stage, the price of oil would have gone up to 130 dollars a barrel… we were advised by our friends in the United States to please buy Russian oil, but within the price cap,” Puri told CNBC in July.
The New York Times reported that US Treasury officials even visited India in 2025 to thank Delhi for helping keep Russian oil in the market at reduced prices, which in turn limited Russia’s revenues.
In 2022, then US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the US was “happy” for India to continue buying Russian oil, even at higher prices, provided it avoided Western insurance and shipping services linked to the G7 price cap.
India Pushes Back Against US Pressure
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had issued a statement on Monday, accusing the US of “double standards” for targeting India while continuing its own imports from Russia. The MEA said that the US still buys Russian uranium, palladium, fertilizers, and chemicals.
“In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the MEA said.
Trade And Energy Tensions Continue
Trump has repeatedly attacked India over its Russian oil purchases, claiming that Delhi resells much of the oil on the open market for profit. Analysts see his remarks as part of a larger pressure tactic during ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries.
India has made it clear that it will continue buying Russian oil, insisting that the purchases are legal, in line with global price caps, and important for both its own economy and global market stability.
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