Trump Targets India : 25% Tariff Amid Russia and BRICS Alliance

"Geopolitics Meets Trade: Trump’s Tariff on India and the BRICS-Russia Nexus"

India Input July 31, 2025

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Trump Targets India : 25% Tariff Amid Russia and BRICS Alliance.US President Donald Trump described India’s economy as “dead” in a social media post. In a sharp escalation of economic pressure, former U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports, citing India’s continued trade engagement with Russia and its growing role within the BRICS alliance. The move reflects a broader geopolitical strategy aimed at curbing the influence of alternative global power blocs challenging U.S.-led institutions.

By India Input desk

The world is no longer defined by Cold War binaries. India’s foreign policy reflects this new reality. Trump’s tariff threat, while politically expedient, is economically reckless and diplomatically shortsighted.

Trump’s tariff threat!

Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) July 31, 2025 !

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I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let’s…

— Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) July 31, 2025

India’s deepening trade relations with Russia particularly in energy and defense, have drawn increased scrutiny from Washington. Since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the West has pushed for global isolation of Moscow through sanctions. However, India has maintained a neutral stance, significantly increasing imports of Russian oil at discounted rates, thus cushioning Russia’s economy. Trump, known for his aggressive trade policies, has framed this as “economic support to America’s adversaries,” warranting financial consequences.

Trump’s tariff threat!

The outburst of proud Indians on ‘X’….flooded with support for India & Russia

— That Marine Guy🇮🇳 (@thatmarineguy21) July 31, 2025 tweets!

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Real pain is here.. 🤣😂 pic.twitter.com/llw0YOCrks

— That Marine Guy🇮🇳 (@thatmarineguy21) July 31, 2025

While the U.S. has not formally sanctioned India, Trump’s tariff threat reveals a deeper frustration, India’s refusal to pick sides in a polarized global order. By leveraging its neutral stance, India has secured discounted Russian crude and bolstered its energy security, choices rooted in pragmatism, not ideology.

The outburst of proud Indians on ‘X’….flooded with support for India & Russia

— Diplomatic Talk (@DiplomaticTalk2) July 31, 2025 tweets!

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Keep barking, Trump. India isn’t your puppet.
You looted oil, bombed nations, armed terrorists — and now lecture us on trade?
Dead economy? India is growing faster than the US.
Maybe worry about your own elections before threatening world leaders.
This isn’t 1947. This is New… pic.twitter.com/QEBk0DGtPk

— Diplomatic Talk (@DiplomaticTalk2) July 31, 2025

Yet in Trump’s worldview, neutrality is unacceptable. The tariff proposal sends a signal not just to India, but to BRICS at large. With the bloc expanding and pushing to de-dollarize global trade, the West is beginning to perceive BRICS not as a loose coalition, but as a credible alternative to U.S. led global governance.

The outburst of proud Indians on ‘X’….flooded with support for India & Russia

— Praveen Singh (@merabundelkhand) July 31, 2025 tweets!

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@realDonaldTrump

According to the IMF’s latest 2025 growth forecast, India is expected to grow at 6.4%, the highest among major economies—ahead of China (4.8%), the US (1.9%), Germany (0.1%), and the UK (1.2%).

If the Indian economy is “dead,” as you claim, then the rest of…

— Praveen Singh (@merabundelkhand) July 31, 2025

Trump’s tariff threat!

For India, the tariff could have wide-ranging implications. It risks damaging its $100+ billion trade relationship with the U.S., potentially increasing inflation and affecting key export sectors like pharmaceuticals, textiles, and IT services. At the same time, it places India in a difficult diplomatic position—balancing its strategic autonomy with the need to maintain favorable relations with both East and West.

“Trump Panics About BRICS? 🇺🇸 President Admits 🇮🇳 Tariffs Are ‘Partially’ About Bloc”

— RT_India (@RT_India_news) July 31, 2025 tweets!

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😱 Trump Panics About BRICS? 🇺🇸 President Admits 🇮🇳 Tariffs Are ‘Partially’ About Bloc

The grouping is “basically a group of countries that are anti the US…we’re not gonna let anybody attack the dollar,” he says.

Did he forget that India & Russia are “dead economies”? 🤪 pic.twitter.com/pYQ0vQRkwM

— RT_India (@RT_India_news) July 31, 2025

Ultimately, Trump’s move is less about trade imbalance and more about geopolitics. It underscores the growing intersection of economic policy with international alliances, and the price countries may pay for navigating a multipolar world on their own terms.

Source :

http://x.com

https://www.dgft.gov.in