Washington, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday (local time) expressed sharp disapproval of India's continued energy cooperation with Russia, calling New Delhi’s purchase of discounted Russian oil "a point of irritation" in U.S.-India relations.
Rubio’s comments came on the heels of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s remarks earlier in the week, making him the second senior Trump administration official in 24 hours to raise concerns over India’s trade and energy ties with Moscow. Bessent had described U.S. trade talks with India as "frustrating," particularly in the context of India’s ongoing engagement with Russia in the energy sector.
The wave of criticism was triggered by President Donald Trump's social media post on Thursday, in which he launched a scathing attack on the India-Russia nexus, especially in energy and defense. Announcing a new 25% tariff on Indian goods, along with what he described as additional “penalties” for New Delhi’s relationship with the Putin-led government, Trump declared:
“I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India — their tariffs are among the highest in the world. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together.”
Rubio Echoes Trump’s Stance on Russian Oil Imports
Echoing the president’s sentiments during an interview with Fox News, Secretary Rubio reaffirmed that while India remains a strategic partner, its alignment with Russia — especially in energy — remains a source of friction.
“India is an ally and a strategic partner. But like any foreign policy relationship, there won’t be 100% alignment. India has substantial energy requirements — oil, gas, coal — and purchases these from Russia because it’s cheaper. Unfortunately, this is helping sustain the Russian war effort, and it remains a point of irritation in our bilateral ties,” Rubio said.
He added that President Trump’s frustration stems from India’s continued reliance on Russian oil despite the availability of alternative global suppliers.
Bessent Accuses India of Undermining Global Norms
In a separate interview with CNBC, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expanded on these concerns, noting that India has not met U.S. expectations in ongoing trade negotiations and accusing New Delhi of reshaping Russian crude into refined products for export.
“India has been a major buyer of Russian oil, which it then refines and sells globally. From our standpoint, that doesn’t align with the behavior of a responsible global actor,” Bessent said.
Despite mounting pressure, Indian officials have reiterated that negotiations with Washington remain ongoing and that any agreements will be concluded in accordance with India’s national interests.
Political Undercurrents Behind Trump’s Trade Penalties
President Trump’s tariff announcement came shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Parliament, unequivocally stating that no international leader had asked India to halt Operation Sindoor, an anti-terror campaign that Trump has previously claimed to have influenced. Without naming Trump directly, Modi’s statement was widely seen as a rebuttal to the U.S. President’s repeated assertions that he had brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
With the new 25% tariff regime set to take effect on August 1, tensions between Washington and New Delhi are expected to escalate further, particularly if India maintains its current energy posture toward Moscow.
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