Russia & India Reaffirm Strategic Partnership Amid U.S. Tariff Hike

Russia and India are standing shoulder-to-shoulder, reinforcing their close friendship during security talks in Moscow on Thursday.

This comes right after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a steep 25% tariff on Indian goods, starting August 28, because India keeps buying Russian oil.

For some Indian exports, this means tariffs as high as 50%, putting a strain on India’s relationship with the U.S., its biggest customer for exports.

India’s National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, sat down with Sergei Shoigu, a key Russian security official, to talk about their strong partnership. Doval shared his excitement about Russian President Vladimir Putin possibly visiting India before the year’s end, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.

• India, Russia Strengthen Ties as U.S. Slaps Steep Tariffs on Indian Exports
• Ajit Doval Meets Putin in Moscow Amid Rising Trade Tensions with America
• U.S. Tariff Hike Pushes India Closer to Russia, Eyes Strategic Shift in Asia

Later, Doval met Putin at the Kremlin, where TV cameras caught their warm handshake, joined by Russia’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov and India’s Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar.

Shoigu spoke about how their teamwork helps create a fairer world and tackles big global challenges. India, one of the world’s top oil users, buys about 35% of its oil from Russia—a habit that grew after Western sanctions on Russia followed its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. India says these purchases keep oil prices stable by easing demand for Middle Eastern supplies.

The new U.S. tariffs have upset folks in New Delhi, with India’s foreign ministry calling them unfair. They pointed out that other countries, even the U.S., still trade with Russia for things like uranium and fertilizers. These tariffs could hurt India’s $87 billion export market, hitting industries like clothing and medicines hard. Indian officials are scrambling to find ways to help exporters, while experts warn the country’s economy might grow slower than expected, possibly dipping below 6%.

Also Read: Brazil's Lula Says No to Tariff Talks with Trump, Citing Respect

As trade talks with the U.S. hit rough waters, India is leaning on its friendship with Russia and planning a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China. This could mean a shift in how India aligns itself on the world stage.