‘Don’t Burn...’: Nikki Haley Defends India, Cites China Tariff Pause After Trump Threat

Last Updated:August 05, 2025, 20:16 IST

Nikki Haley criticized Donald Trump's tariff threat on Indian goods, warning it could harm the US-India partnership.

Former US envoy to the UN Nikki Haley | File Image

Republican leader Nikki Haley criticised US President Donald Trump’s threat to sharply raise tariffs on Indian goods, warning that the move risks damaging a vital strategic partnership. The former UN Ambassador urged the White House not to alienate India while granting a tariff reprieve to China- a country she described as an adversary and the leading buyer of Russian and Iranian oil.

In the most pointed Republican critique yet of Donald Trump’s escalating stance toward India, Nikki Haley wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “India should not be buying oil from Russia. But China, an adversary and the number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause.

Nikki Haley, who has often positioned herself as both hawkish on China and supportive of India’s strategic rise, said, “Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India."

Donald Trump’s Latest Threat Warning For India

Her remarks came after Donald Trump said that he intends to “very substantially" increase tariffs on Indian goods within 24 hours, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. Donald Trump claimed the US does “little business with India" while New Delhi does “a lot of business with us."

Earlier, the US President accused India of buying “massive amounts of Russian oil" and reselling it on the open market for profit, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. He wrote in a post on his social media platform 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."

India Hits Back At Donald Trump’s Tariffs

The Ministry of External Affairs issued a strong rebuttal rejecting Donald Trump’s characterisation as politically motivated and “unjustified and unreasonable." The MEA explained that India’s pivot to Russian oil was driven by necessity as traditional suppliers diverted their exports to Europe following the Ukraine war. The MEA said, “The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets’ stability."

The MEA added that the United States itself continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV sector, fertilizers and chemicals from Russia.

“Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security," it said.

Location :

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published:

August 05, 2025, 20:16 IST

News world ‘Don’t Burn...’: Nikki Haley Defends India, Cites China Tariff Pause After Trump Threat

Read More