Trump Aide Criticises India’s Russian Oil Imports, Labels SCO Summit ‘Performative’
Trump Aide Hits Out at India Over Russian Oil, Dismisses SCO Summit as ‘Performative’
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has criticised India’s continued purchases of Russian crude, warning that the trade is helping to finance Moscow’s war in Ukraine. His remarks came just hours after President Donald Trump said India had offered to cut tariffs to zero.
In an interview with Fox News, Bessent downplayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. “This is a longstanding meeting … largely performative,” he said. “India is the most populous democracy in the world. Their values are much closer to ours than to Russia’s.”
But Bessent was unsparing on energy ties. “India is not being a great actor buying Russian oil and reselling refined products. That is fuelling the Russian war machine,” he said, adding that China was doing the same. “At some point, we and our allies will have to step up.”
Despite the criticism, Bessent expressed confidence that the US and India could resolve differences. “Two great democracies will get this solved,” he said.
Tariffs and Trade Tensions
Trade disputes remain a sticking point. The Trump administration has raised tariffs on Indian goods by 50 per cent, citing New Delhi’s refusal to cut oil purchases from Russia and slow progress in negotiations. Trump has called the relationship a “one-sided disaster,” accusing India of blocking American exports with high tariffs.
On Russia, Bessent said “all options are on the table,” signalling possible new sanctions as the Kremlin intensifies its assault on Ukraine.
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