The Kremlin has made it clear that it views US President Donald Trump’s recent actions as “threats” against its trading partners. On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that any pressure against Russia’s trade partners will be interpreted as “threats” and that attempts to force countries to stop trading with Russia are “illegal.”
Trump’s warning, which was made in a social media post, accused India of buying discounted Russian oil and then reselling it for a profit. He linked this trade to the war in Ukraine and threatened to “substantially” raise tariffs on Indian goods, a measure that would compound the existing 25% tariffs that were imposed on August 1.
The Indian government’s response was equally defiant. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement that called the targeting of India by the US and European Union “unjustified and unreasonable.” It asserted that India would take all necessary measures to protect its “national interests and economic security.”
The diplomatic exchange highlights a growing power struggle over global economic influence. Russia’s public support for India signals a strengthening of their strategic partnership, as both nations resist what they see as coercive US trade policies. The situation underscores the limitations of using economic sanctions to dictate the foreign policy of sovereign nations.