President Vladimir Putin of Russia has voiced strong criticism of the United States’ efforts to discourage India and China from maintaining their energy relationships with Moscow, warning that such strategies could have negative economic repercussions. Putin’s statements were made in response to the Trump administration’s sustained efforts to influence trade and energy partnerships involving both China and India.
Putin argued that increasing tariffs on Russian trade partners would likely result in global price hikes and might force the US Federal Reserve to keep interest rates high. He also pointed out the Trump administration’s additional 25% tariff on India, which raised the total tax on Indian exports to 50% by August. Addressing Russian experts, Putin asserted, “India and China will not allow themselves to be humiliated.”