Now Reading: Trump’s Indian fans turn on him over Russian oil, tariffs
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Trump’s Indian fans turn on him over Russian oil, tariffs
Trump administration officials Peter Navarro, Stephen Miller and Scott Bessent have drawn sharp Indian backlash after criticising New Delhi's Russian oil purchases. Business Today reports that the criticism, along with Trump's threat…
The Story in Brief
Trump administration officials Peter Navarro, Stephen Miller and Scott Bessent have drawn sharp Indian backlash after criticising New Delhi's Russian oil purchases. Business Today reports that the criticism, along with Trump's threat of higher tariffs on Indian exports, has soured the goodwill Trump once enjoyed among some Indian supporters, who previously held prayers for his victory and safety.
India has defended its Russian crude imports as necessary for affordable energy, pointing out that other major economies also continued buying Russian oil. The friction highlights a collision between Trump's America First agenda and India's strategic autonomy, turning admiration into nationalist resentment.
The Indian Opinion
Indian commentary often paints this shift as a simple betrayal by Trump, but that misses the point. India's Russian oil purchases have been a pragmatic hedge, not a political endorsement. Trump's tariff threats are transactional, not personal. The real test will be whether New Delhi can negotiate a carve-out without sacrificing its energy security, or whether both sides will let rhetoric harden into lasting damage. Watch the next round of trade talks for answers.
Source: businesstoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
