**US Accuses India of Helping Fund Russia’s War in Ukraine**
A senior Trump administration official has made a shocking accusation against one of the US’s closest allies: India. Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff and close adviser to President Donald Trump, said that India is helping to fund Russia’s war in Ukraine by importing oil from Moscow.
Speaking on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Miller stated that it is “not acceptable” for India to continue financing the war by buying Russian oil. He emphasized that this was a clear message from President Trump himself. This criticism is some of the strongest yet from the Trump administration against a major US partner in the Indo-Pacific.
The comments come just days after Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports, effective August 1. The policy was in response to India’s continued purchases of Russian military equipment and energy. Miller highlighted that India is “basically tied” with China in purchasing Russian oil, calling this an “astonishing fact”.
India’s reliance on Russian crude oil has grown since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Initially, Russian oil accounted for just 0.2% of India’s imports. However, despite US warnings, Indian government officials told Reuters that the country intends to continue buying Russian oil.
Interestingly, Miller emphasized that President Trump’s relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains “tremendous”. This is despite the growing tensions between the two countries over this issue.
**What does it mean?**
The accusation against India by a senior US official raises questions about the complex relationships between major world powers. On one hand, the US has imposed tariffs on Indian imports and warned them to stop financing Russia’s war in Ukraine. On the other hand, India is trying to maintain its economic ties with both the US and Russia.
As tensions rise, it remains to be seen how these superpowers will navigate their relationships in the face of such a sensitive issue.
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