Buying Russian Oil May Cost India Dearly—Trump’s 50% Tariff Threat Could Change Everything

It’s almost surreal how quickly things have changed. Not long ago, Donald Trump and Narendra Modi were side by side at massive rallies, praising each other like old allies with a shared vision. They called each other friends—almost like brothers on the world stage.

But this week, that so-called friendship hit a brutal low.

In a move that’s left many stunned, Trump just signed off on a 25% tariff hike on Indian goods—on top of an already crushing 25%. That’s a full 50% tariff. One of the harshest the US has ever imposed on India.

And the reason? India’s continued purchase of oil from Russia.

Trump didn’t mince words. He slammed India, saying it “doesn’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed,” and claimed their oil purchases are helping bankroll Russia’s war. It’s a bold accusation—especially coming from the U.S., which, even under sanctions, quietly traded billions with Russia just last year.

India’s response was calm but pointed. They called the move “unjustified, unfair, and unreasonable.” Their officials reminded the world that, at the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, it was the US itself that urged India to keep buying oil from Russia to help stabilize global markets—because Europe was scrambling to replace its own lost supply.

Now, those same actions are being punished.

The real tension here isn’t just about oil. It’s about trust. About two massive democracies seeing each other differently now. Trump’s message is clear: no matter how close the handshake, if you’re not on his side, you’ll feel it.

The fallout could be huge. Experts in Delhi say this tariff might slash Indian exports to the US by nearly half. Thousands of businesses could be affected. And the political message? Even allies aren’t safe from economic warfare.

It’s not the first time Trump has wielded secondary sanctions to force global hands—Venezuela knows that story all too well. But doing it to India, a nation that stood by the US in more ways than one, hits different.

Maybe this is about more than just policy. Maybe it’s a warning to the rest of the world: stand with me, or feel the heat.

But here’s what stings the most—this didn’t come from a rival. It came from someone who once called India “a true friend.” And sometimes, when friends turn their back, it hurts more than an enemy ever could.