Trump Threatens More Tariffs on India if Putin Talks Fail

As Donald Trump prepares for a high-stakes meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, his team is linking India’s economic fate to the outcome.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that if there is no breakthrough on Ukraine,

Washington will impose higher “secondary tariffs” on India for its Russian oil purchases — and he wants the European Union to do the same. While Trump claims these measures pressure Moscow

, India–Russia ties are actually deepening, with new industrial agreements, high-level visits, and plans for President Putin to visit India this year. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is headed to Russia next week to prepare.

Instead of isolating Moscow, Trump’s tariff threats may be driving New Delhi and Moscow closer together.