U.S. President Donald Trump recently claimed that India has reduced its imports of Russian crude oil to appease Washington, warning of potential tariffs if the trend continues.
U.S. President Donald Trump, during a press interaction on January 4, 2026, asserted that India has decreased its imports of Russian crude oil in recent months, primarily to appease the United States and facilitate a broader trade agreement between the two nations. His comments reflect the growing tensions between the U.S. and India, particularly as issues related to energy, sanctions, and tariffs become increasingly intertwined.
“They wanted to make me happy,” Trump stated, referring to India’s alleged decision to scale back its purchases from Moscow. He praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “a very good man,” emphasizing that Modi understood Washington’s dissatisfaction with India’s ongoing Russian oil imports. “He knew I was unhappy, and it was important to make me happy. They do trade with us, and we can raise tariffs very quickly — and it would be bad for them,” Trump warned.
Trump further cautioned that additional tariffs could be swiftly imposed if India continues to buy oil from Russia, reinforcing his administration’s hardline stance on countries maintaining energy ties with Moscow.
Senator Lindsey Graham publicly supported Trump’s assertion, stating that India’s declining Russian oil imports were specifically mentioned by India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, during a meeting in December 2025.
“I was at the Indian Ambassador’s house about a month ago, and all he wanted to talk about was how India is buying less Russian oil,” Graham noted. He added that the ambassador urged him to relay this information to President Trump in hopes of securing relief from the 25% U.S. tariff imposed alongside reciprocal duties.
“This stuff works,” Graham remarked, suggesting that trade pressure has influenced India’s energy decisions.
Data indicates that India has indeed reduced its Russian oil imports, showing a sharp decline of approximately 38% in value and 31% in volume in October 2025 compared to the previous year. However, analysts emphasize that India had already begun diversifying its crude sources well before the U.S. tariffs were enacted.
Energy experts argue that India’s oil procurement strategy is influenced by a combination of factors, including price, supply security, refining compatibility, and long-term contracts, rather than solely by political pressure. They contend that the reduction in Russian crude reflects market dynamics and risk management rather than a unilateral policy shift aimed at appeasing Washington.
The controversy arises as U.S. lawmakers advocate for stricter sanctions on Russia’s energy revenues. Senator Graham, along with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, is a leading sponsor of a bill proposing punitive tariffs of up to 500% on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil or uranium.
Both senators were part of a bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation hosted by Ambassador Kwatra at the Indian Embassy in Washington on December 2, 2025. This meeting underscored the increasing U.S. pressure on major economies to further isolate Moscow economically.
India’s External Affairs Ministry did not respond to requests for comment regarding Trump’s remarks. However, in previous statements, New Delhi has criticized unilateral sanctions as an example of “double standards,” highlighting that several Western nations, including the United States, continue indirect trade in Russian energy, uranium, and critical minerals.
Indian officials have consistently maintained that India’s energy policy is guided by national interests, affordability, and supply stability—especially given the country’s large and growing energy demand.
Trump has previously claimed that India promised to eliminate Russian oil imports entirely, a statement that Indian officials have never publicly confirmed. His latest comments suggest that energy trade has become a bargaining chip in broader negotiations concerning tariffs, market access, and bilateral trade agreements.
As Washington intensifies its tariff threats and sanctions rhetoric, this episode highlights the delicate balance in India–U.S. relations: a strong strategic alignment on many global issues, yet persistent friction when economic sovereignty and geopolitical pressures intersect.
Whether India will further reduce its reliance on Russian crude remains uncertain. However, it is evident that oil, tariffs, and diplomacy are now intricately linked, with implications that extend far beyond energy markets, according to Global Net News.