CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Washington. A new disclosure has emerged about the United States’ strategy on economic action against India and China over their purchase of crude oil from Russia. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Donald Trump’s administration wanted European countries to also impose additional tariffs on India and China, so that pressure could be increased on Russia’s oil revenue. However, European allies refused to join the proposal.
“Why should America alone bear the burden?” Bessent said during an interview on the NBC television programme “Meet the Press” that Washington had asked European allies in the spring to join it in imposing additional tariffs on India and China. According to him, European countries did not accept the proposal. Bessent questioned why only the United States should bear the burden of putting economic pressure on Russia.
Bessent also criticised the energy policy of European countries. He alleged that Europe supports Ukraine on the one hand, while on the other it continues to buy Russian energy and provide revenue to Russia. Citing figures related to Russian energy imports, he questioned the policies of European countries.
The statement comes at a time when the Trump administration has given a 60-day temporary waiver to assess the impact of Russia-related sanctions and proposed tariffs on some countries, including India. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the administration wants to evaluate the possible impact of these steps on the global economy and the US economy. Rubio also acknowledged that it is not easy for countries such as India to immediately end dependence on Russian energy. He described India as an important ally and partner of the United States.
Why is this development important for India? India buys crude oil from various countries to meet its energy needs. Pressure on India over US tariffs and sanctions because of oil imports from Russia has also been discussed earlier. If several Western countries had agreed to impose additional tariffs together, it could have had a wide impact on Indian importers and the energy market.
For now, Bessent’s remarks make it clear that there are differences between the United States and its European allies over the method of putting pressure on Russia. However, Europe’s refusal does not mean that there will be no US action of any kind against India and China in the future. Further decisions in this regard will depend on the global energy market, the Russia-Ukraine war and the United States’ policy review.
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