Trump aide accuses India of funding Russia’s war

Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff to former U.S. President Donald Trump, has accused India of effectively funding Russia’s war in Ukraine by purchasing Russian oil, escalating pressure on one of America’s key partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

Speaking on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Miller said, “It is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing oil from Russia,” and warned that India is nearly on par with China as a leading buyer of Russian crude—a “shocking” fact he emphasized during the interview.

This criticism, Reuters reports, comes just days after the Trump administration imposed a 25% tariff on most Indian exports, effective August 1, citing India’s continued defense and energy ties with Moscow. Trump has also threatened to raise tariffs as high as 100% on imports from countries that persist in buying Russian oil unless Moscow agrees to a major peace deal with Ukraine. 

The Indian Express reports that despite the threats, Indian government sources have reaffirmed that New Delhi will continue purchasing oil from Russia, driven by energy needs and favorable pricing agreements.

Miller tempered some of the criticism by praising the relationship between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “tremendous,” though he underlined that strategic ties do not exempt India from accountability over its economic choices.

According to the Guardian, India’s dependence on Russian crude has surged since 2022, now accounting for over one-third of its oil imports, up from under 1% before the war. Economic forecasts warn that Indian exporters in sectors like textiles, pharmaceuticals, and gems could face significant losses due to higher U.S. tariffs, with ripple effects across the economy.