Trump threatens "substantial" tariff hike on India within 24 hours

In a significant escalation of trade tensions, US President Donald Trump has stated he may "substantially" raise tariffs on India within the next 24 hours. Speaking to CNBC, Trump reiterated his claim that India has the world's highest tariffs on US goods and accused New Delhi of not being a "good trading partner." His latest warning comes just days after the US imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods, and is directly linked to India's continued purchase of Russian oil and military products, which he claims is "fueling the war machine."

The US President's threats have drawn sharp responses from both India and Russia. The Indian government issued a "strong worded statement," labeling the US's actions as "unjustified and unreasonable." India's Ministry of External Affairs has defended its energy trade, asserting that its decisions are driven by national interest and market conditions, not political alliances. Furthermore, Indian officials have highlighted what they see as hypocrisy, pointing out that the US and European nations also continue to maintain trade with Russia.

Meanwhile, Moscow has come to India's defense, with a Kremlin spokesperson stating that such threats against Russia's trading partners are "illegitimate" and "illegal." Russia affirmed that sovereign nations have the right to choose their own trade partners based on their national interests. The ongoing standoff highlights a growing geopolitical divide as the US seeks to pressure countries to align against Russia, while nations like India insist on an independent foreign and trade policy.