New Delhi:
According to a revised report by Russian news agency Interfax, which cited India’s National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, during his visit to Moscow on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin is anticipated to visit India at the end of 2025. This update corrects an earlier report that stated the visit would occur in late August of this year. India, meanwhile, has denied rumors that Vladimir Putin would travel in August and stated that the dates of the Russian president’s trip to Delhi are “under discussion.”
What’s Causing the Most Recent US-India Tariff War? After former US President Donald Trump announced a new executive order on Wednesday putting an additional 25% duty on Indian goods, tensions between New Delhi and Washington have escalated. The White House justified the action by pointing to India’s purported imports of petroleum products and crude oil from the Russian Federation, either directly or via third-party middlemen.
The latest tariffs raise the possibility of a trade war between the two vital partners by raising the total US import levy on Indian goods to a high 50%.
What Makes India’s Energy Trade a Target for the US? The presidential order states that the Trump administration feels that India’s ongoing purchases of Russian oil jeopardize US national security interests and foreign policy goals. The White House’s US directive defines “indirect imports” broadly as any purchase made through intermediaries or third parties where it is reasonably possible to identify the oil’s Russian origin. India and Russia have a limited amount of time to start diplomatic talks in order to seek relief before the additional 25% tariffs go into effect, which is 21 days after the order is signed.
What Is India’s Reaction? According to Bloomberg, India’s state-owned oil refineries have already started reducing their purchases of Russian crude. This cautious change seems to be a direct reaction to the increased duties and Washington’s heightened scrutiny.
Up until now, India has managed to strike a balance between defending its sovereign right to energy security while working to maintain strategic ties with both Russia and the United States.
What’s at Risk During Putin’s Visit? President Putin’s visit could be a pivotal point in India’s geopolitical strategy if it proceeds as planned. Even as New Delhi tries to manage its complicated relations with Washington, the timing—coinciding with US trade threats and potential diplomatic maneuvering—could strengthen the perception of a robust Indo-Russian cooperation.
