Republican chief Nikki Haley. File
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
“India should take Trump’s level over Russian oil critically,” mentioned Republican chief Nikki Haley, including that New Delhi should work with the White Home to discover a answer, “sooner the higher”. “Navigating points like commerce disagreements and Russian oil imports calls for arduous dialogue,” Ms. Haley posted on social media on Saturday (August 23, 2025).
She posted on X a portion of the opinion piece she wrote final week for Newsweek amid pressure in ties between the 2 nations after President Donald Trump slapped 50% tariff on Indian items.
Ms. Haley has been going through criticism inside her occasion for favouring India amid tariff tensions between the 2 nations.
In her article Ms. Haley mentioned, “Trump is correct to focus on India’s large Russian oil purchases, that are serving to to fund Vladimir Putin’s brutal struggle towards Ukraine.” Nevertheless, she added that India should be handled just like the “prized free and democratic companion that it’s — not an adversary like China.” Ms. Haley highlighted a long time of “friendship and goodwill” between India and the U.S., the world’s two largest democracies. It gives a “strong foundation to maneuver previous the present turbulence”, she added. She mentioned that the U.S. and India “shouldn’t lose sight of what issues most: our shared targets”. “To face China, the US should have a good friend in India,” she added. “India stands alone in its potential to fabricate at China-like scale for merchandise that may’t be shortly or effectively produced right here [in the U.S.],” Ms. Haley mentioned in her article.
Ms. Haley, the previous Governor of South Carolina, was the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations beneath Mr. Trump’s first presidential time period, changing into the primary Indian-American to be appointed to a Cupboard-level submit within the U.S. administration.
In 2013, she formally introduced her candidacy for the 2024 presidential election and withdrew from the race in March final yr. President Trump has doubled tariffs on Indian items to a whopping 50%, together with a 25% extra duties for India’s buy of Russian crude oil that may come into impact from August 27.
Additionally learn: Will India cave in to U.S. pressure on Russian oil? | Explained
Defending its buy of Russian crude oil, India has been sustaining that its vitality procurement is pushed by nationwide curiosity and market dynamics.
India turned to buying Russian oil bought at a reduction after Western nations imposed sanctions on Moscow and shunned its provides over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Printed – August 24, 2025 01:40 pm IST
