On October 19, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened India with “massive tariffs” if it continues importing Russian crude oil. Trump claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally assured him India would halt such imports, calling it a “big step” in isolating Moscow amid the Ukraine war. However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied any recent phone conversation took place between the two leaders and reaffirmed that India’s energy decisions are driven by safeguarding the interests of Indian consumers amid a volatile global market. Despite this pressure, India has reportedly increased its Russian oil imports by about 20% in October, strengthening its crude oil trade with Russia to around 1.8 million barrels per day. This marks a reversal of a previous dip and reflects India’s strategy of maintaining energy security and stable supplies while balancing complex geopolitical dynamics. Meanwhile, ongoing U.S.-India trade negotiations proceed cordially, with India emphasizing its sovereign right to diversify energy sources according to its national interests. Trump’s tariffs remain a key issue in these discussions, underscoring the challenging trade relationship amid broader geopolitical tensions.