United States Senator Lindsey Graham has issued a stern warning to countries continuing trade ties with Russia, declaring that a future Trump administration would slap punitive tariffs on nations like India, China, and Brazil for purchasing Russian oil amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
In a strongly worded interview with Fox News, Graham said the US must act aggressively to cut off Moscow’s revenue sources, particularly through energy exports. He claimed that trading partners who continue to import Russian oil are indirectly supporting President Vladimir Putin’s war efforts in Ukraine.
“Trump is going to impose tariffs on people that buy Russian oil — China, India, and Brazil… Here’s what I would tell China, India and Brazil: If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we’re going to tear up the hell out of you, and we’re going to crush your economy,” Graham said.
The Republican senator, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, revealed that plans are underway to introduce 100 percent tariffs on oil-related imports from nations trading with Russia. This comes on the heels of his earlier proposal of a 500 percent tariff on goods from countries that continue commercial engagements with Moscow.
The remarks are the most explicit threat yet from a senior US lawmaker toward New Delhi, which has increased its Russian oil imports since the onset of the war in 2022. India has repeatedly defended its decision on the grounds of national interest and energy security, noting that discounted Russian crude helps cushion inflationary pressures in a developing economy.
Both India and China have maintained diplomatic and trade relationships with Russia despite mounting pressure from Western allies. India, in particular, has walked a tightrope by abstaining from anti-Russia resolutions at the UN while also expanding defense and energy cooperation with the US and its allies.
The U.S. administration under President Joe Biden has so far taken a more measured approach, urging countries like India to reduce reliance on Russian energy but stopping short of imposing economic penalties. However, with the 2024 US elections having brought Trump back into the spotlight, foreign policy under a second Trump term may become more hardline.
Graham’s warning signals what could be a sharp shift in Washington’s posture should Trump return to power, with trade relations and tariffs potentially becoming a key foreign policy lever to isolate Russia further.
International analysts believe such aggressive tariff impositions could have far-reaching implications for the global economy, especially in emerging markets. For India, a major buyer of Russian crude and a rising global economic power, such tariffs could disrupt both its energy supply chain and exports to the US.
There has been no official response yet from India’s Ministry of External Affairs or the Petroleum Ministry on Graham’s remarks. However, government sources have previously stated that India’s foreign policy remains guided by “strategic autonomy” and national interests.
The situation adds a new layer of uncertainty to global geopolitics and trade, as Western allies seek to choke off funding for Russia’s war machine while emerging economies strive to balance global alignments with domestic economic imperatives.
