New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin to explain his Ukraine strategy while also raising concerns over steep US tariffs on Indian goods, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
According to Rutte, Modi flagged the 50% tariff imposed by former US President Donald Trump, which includes a 25% additional duty linked to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. He suggested the tariffs are not only hurting India but also having “a big impact on Russia.”
Neither Indian nor Russian officials have commented on the reported exchange. Trump’s move to double duties on Indian imports was part of Washington’s broader strategy to pressure Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. While India slammed the action as “unfair and unjustified,” Washington maintains negotiations with New Delhi are ongoing to reduce trade barriers.
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro defended the tariff hikes at the time, sparking controversy with a caste-based remark accusing India’s Brahmin community of profiteering at the nation’s expense.
The development comes as geopolitical tensions escalate. Russia’s foreign minister accused NATO and the EU of using Ukraine to wage a “real war” against Moscow, while Trump recently urged NATO allies to adopt a harsher stance even suggesting they shoot down Russian jets entering allied airspace.
