Secondary tariffs on India are aggressive leverage on Russia: JD Vance

US Vice President J D Vance on Sunday said that President Donald Trump has employed “aggressive economic leverage,” including the imposition of secondary tariffs on India, to push Russia to halt its war in Ukraine. He said the move was intended to “make it harder for the Russians to get rich from their oil economy.” The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized New Delhi for buying discounted Russian crude oil, though it has refrained from issuing similar rebukes to Beijing, the largest importer of Russian oil.

India has defended its energy purchases, stating that procurement is guided by national interest and global market dynamics. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, responding to criticism a day earlier, remarked at an event in New Delhi, “It’s funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business… If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, don’t buy it. Nobody forces you.”

Talking about the pressure Washington was applying on Moscow in the absence of new sanctions, Vance said, “Trump tried to make it clear that Russia can be reinvited into the world economy if they stop the killing. But they are going to continue to be isolated if they don’t.” The vice president added that the US remains confident of brokering an end to the war despite challenges that have surfaced following Trump’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We believe we’ve already seen some significant concessions from both sides, just in the last few weeks,” Vance said.

The development marks a fresh strain in Washington-New Delhi relations. Earlier in April, Vance, while speaking in Jaipur, had urged India to dismantle non-tariff barriers, provide greater market access, and step up purchases of American energy and defense equipment. However, ties have since soured, particularly after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, with an additional 25 per cent duty imposed on India’s Russian crude imports.

Washington alleges that India’s Russian oil purchases are indirectly funding Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine, a claim New Delhi has consistently rejected. India turned to discounted Russian crude after Western nations imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to information.