Bad example: The United States called on European countries to impose sanctions on India

US President Donald Trump's trade war against India continues. US Presidential adviser Peter Navarro accused India's top varna of making money from Russian oil. Washington called on European countries to follow its example and impose sanctions against New Delhi. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

Why did the United States impose sanctions on India

The White House has called on European countries to impose similar sanctions on India. According to India Today, citing sources, the proposed restrictions include a complete shutdown of oil and gas purchases from New Delhi. The Trump administration also suggested that Brussels consider additional duties on Indian goods.

US President's trade adviser Peter Navarro said on Fox News that the highest Indian Varna, the Brahmins, earns money from purchases of Russian oil and thereby allegedly profits at the expense of the Indian people. The American also called India a "laundry room" for Russian fuel and for "tariff maharajahs."

Why India does not succumb to US pressure over Russian oil. Analysis

Strong US pressure and powerful Indian opposition

After Donald Trump returned to the White House, the United States began a trade war and imposed duties on many trading partners. Starting from August 2025, duties on India have increased to 50%, as explained in the United States, "for the purchase of Russian oil."

According to Indian sources, the cooling of relations with the United States occurred after the end of the hot phase of the conflict between India and Pakistan in the spring of 2025, when Donald Trump categorically stated that it was possible to defuse tensions only through his mediation.

In a telephone conversation with the US President, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi denied these allegations. According to Indian and Western media, this provoked the anger of the American leader. Trump decided to "punish" New Delhi by doubling duties on Indian exports and bringing them up to 50%: these are some of the maximum rates.

The political scientist called the consequence of the EU's decision to impose sanctions against India

The American leader probably hoped that the Indian government, like the EU leadership, would decide to conclude a trade deal on favorable terms for Washington. But in New Delhi, it provoked the opposite reaction. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal called Washington's actions "unfair and unjustified." India's Minister of Oil and Natural Gas, Hardeep Puri, added that Russian oil supplies had helped protect the global economy from a spike in fuel prices to $200 per barrel. Also, according to him, New Delhi did not violate the "rules", referring to the price ceiling of the G7.

Instead of making concessions to the United States, the Indian authorities promised to take measures to protect national interests, and also intensified ties with China, which is also in a state of "trade war" with the United States.

As a result, the visit of the American delegation to India for the sixth round of trade negotiations, scheduled from August 25 to 29, was canceled. According to the original plan, it was supposed to end with the signing of an agreement.

The American press reacted to the situation.

"The sudden split threatens to undermine the long-standing cooperation between the United States and India in the field of security and technology. In many ways, it was fueled by a shared desire to contain China's global ambitions," The New York Times said.

What do the experts think

Alexey Kupriyanov, head of the Center for the Indian Ocean Region of the Russian Academy of Sciences, believes that Washington is unlikely to force New Delhi to abandon oil supplies from Russia. Moscow and New Delhi are united not only by strong ties, but also by close cooperation through the SCO and BRICS.

— However, the American authorities may encourage India to significantly reduce the volume of purchases. This, in turn, will slow down the growth rate of India's refining sector and may inflate domestic gasoline prices, the expert believes.

According to the indologist, Donald Trump uses accusations of importing Russian oil to impose new tariffs.

"The American leader does not specifically need to stop supplies, but a strong negotiating position that allows him to put pressure on India and force it to open the market for American goods," the expert concluded.

Political analyst Alexander Asafov believes that the introduction of sanctions by Europe against India will be another sensitive blow to the EU economy. At the same time, it will help promote the BRICS and SCO and consolidate the efforts of non-Western actors.

"Consolidated pressure from the West leads to the fact that the contradictions between India and China are being smoothed out, they are being integrated into the vast world of the Global South along with Russia, and Moscow is the flagship here," the expert noted, recalling the thesis of the President of the Russian Federation and the Foreign Ministry.: "today the sanctions are against us, and tomorrow they are against you."

According to Alexander Asafov, in this situation it is not the reason that is important, but the root cause.

"And the root cause is economic competition and the need to monopolize all markets," the analyst concluded.