WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A top aide to President Donald Trump on Sunday accused India of effectively financing Russia's war in Ukraine by purchasing oil from Moscow, after the US leader escalated pressure on New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil.
"What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia," said Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff at the White House and one of Trump's most influential aides.
Miller's criticism was some of the strongest yet by the Trump administration about one of the United States' major partners in the Indo-Pacific.
"People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. That's an astonishing fact," Miller said on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures."
The Indian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Indian government sources told Reuters on Saturday that New Delhi will keep purchasing oil from Moscow despite U.S. threats.
A 25% tariff on Indian products went into effect on Friday as a result of its purchase of military equipment and energy from Russia. Trump has also threatened 100% tariffs on US imports from countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a major peace deal with Ukraine.
Miller tempered his criticism by noting Trump's relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he described as "tremendous."
TRUMP SAYS US DOES VERY LITTLE BUSINESS WITH INDIA, ALMOST NONE WITH RUSSIA
President Trump had on July 31 said that the United States has done very little business with India, and that Russia and the US do almost no business together.
"I don't care what India does with Russia," he said in a Truth Social post, adding that "they can take their dead economies down together, for all I care."
In an earlier Truth Social post on July 30 Trump talked about India's trade with Russia when announcing the US would impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from India starting on August 1.
In response to the earlier Truth Social post, the Indian government said it was studying the implications of Trump's announcements and remained dedicated to securing a fair trade deal.
Trump said that India has always bought a vast majority of their military equipment and energy from Russia, which was "not good."