President Trump is turning up the heat on India, announcing that the U.S. will raise tariffs on Indian imports in response to the country’s continued purchases of Russian oil and its role in the BRICS alliance. With a July 31 trade deadline now passed, Trump made clear that India’s refusal to stop profiting off Russian crude during the Ukraine war would have consequences.

“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social. “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the USA.”

While Trump didn’t specify the exact amount of the tariff increase, he previously set August 1 as the date for a 25% tariff on Indian products. Now, he’s tacking on what he called an “unspecified penalty,” driven in part by India’s economic ties with Russia and political ties with the BRICS alliance—an organization Trump described as “anti-American.”

“Any country aligning themselves with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an additional 10% tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump declared in a prior post on July 1.

India, which has long maintained a complex balancing act between East and West, was seen as a potential partner for a broader Trump-led trade realignment. In late June, the president expressed optimism about talks, saying India had “one of the highest tariffs in the world” and was “willing to cut it very substantially.” But with no agreement reached, the goodwill has evaporated.

Now the U.S. is making it clear: India’s strategy of buying discounted Russian oil and selling it for profit, while publicly claiming neutrality in the war in Ukraine, comes with a cost.

According to trade data, Russia remained India’s top oil supplier in the first half of 2025, accounting for 35% of its overall oil imports. The country has faced criticism for taking advantage of the West’s sanctions on Moscow by stepping in as a major buyer, then reselling refined products like diesel and gasoline to Western markets at a markup.

The White House sees that as more than just economic opportunism—it sees it as undermining U.S. sanctions and enriching a geopolitical rival. Trump’s team views BRICS as a key part of that threat, with India’s participation only deepening Washington’s skepticism.

India’s broader relationship with BRICS, which also includes Russia, China, Brazil, and South Africa, is seen by Trump’s national security team as a strategic pivot away from the U.S.-led economic order. The group’s increasing cooperation on energy, trade, and even currency development has prompted Trump to draw a hard line.

While tariffs are his preferred tool, Trump’s message is broader: nations can’t profit off bad actors while enjoying unrestricted access to U.S. markets.

Meanwhile, Trump’s economic team has celebrated the deals already secured with Mexico and the European Union. Last week, he called the new EU pact the “Biggest Trade Deal Ever,” touting lowered tariffs and a rebalancing of trade flows long seen as unfavorable to the U.S.

But India, once considered a rising strategic partner, is now getting the cold shoulder.

The move is expected to inflame tensions between Washington and New Delhi, with India already pushing back on earlier U.S. complaints over its Russia ties. Indian officials have argued they are pursuing energy security and not choosing sides in the Ukraine conflict. But Trump doesn’t appear interested in nuance.

For him, the equation is simple: if you support America’s enemies, don’t expect free access to American markets.

As the administration prepares to implement the new tariffs, all eyes are on how India responds—and whether other BRICS nations get the same treatment next.