Washington: A senior official from the Trump administration has accused India of indirectly financing the Russia-Ukraine conflict through substantial oil imports from Russia. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller made these claims during an appearance on Fox News, suggesting that India's energy imports from Russia are comparable to those of China, despite New Delhi's assertions of a strong partnership with Washington.
According to Anadolu Agency, Miller expressed that the scale of India's oil purchases would come as a surprise to many. He relayed former President Donald Trump's stance, emphasizing that such actions by India are deemed unacceptable. "What he (US President Donald Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia," Miller stated.
The aide's critique extended beyond the energy sector, touching on India's trade policies and immigration practices, which he argued are detrimental to American workers. He cited high tariffs on U.S. products as a point of contention, further questioning India's portrayal as a close U.S. ally. "India portrays itself as being one of our closest friends in the world, but they don't accept our products," he said, underscoring the need for a more honest dialogue regarding India's role in the ongoing conflict.
India has yet to publicly respond to Miller's remarks. The accusations come in the wake of Trump's previous announcement of imposing 25% tariffs on India due to high trade barriers and its connections with Moscow. Trump also suggested the possibility of 100% tariffs on nations engaged in purchasing Russian oil unless a peace agreement in Ukraine is reached. However, he recently indicated that he had received information suggesting India had ceased its oil purchases from Russia, which he acknowledged as a positive development.
In addressing Trump's August 8 deadline for Russia to halt its military activities, Miller highlighted America's bolstered economic position driven by tax reductions, energy advancements, and trade agreements. "So now we're in a position of economic strength to deal with Russia and to deal with this war," Miller observed. He affirmed that the U.S. is considering a range of strategies-diplomatic, financial, and otherwise-to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.