Tensions escalated on the global stage as Russia lashed out at the United States for pursuing what it called a "neocolonial" policy aimed at maintaining its global dominance. The strong rebuke came in response to sweeping new tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on August 1, targeting over 60 countries — with India among the hardest hit.
In a sharply worded statement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Washington of being unable to accept its waning supremacy in an increasingly multipolar world. “Sanctions and restrictions have unfortunately become a defining feature of the current historical period. Unable to accept the erosion of its dominance in an emerging multipolar international order, Washington continues to pursue a neocolonial agenda,” she said.
Zakharova emphasized that the United States was using politically motivated economic coercion to punish countries that chose an independent course in international affairs. She further hailed the BRICS partnership, asserting that the U.S. tariffs were a direct assault on the sovereignty of the bloc.
“We firmly believe that no tariff wars or sanctions can halt the natural course of history. We are supported by a vast number of partners, like-minded states, and allies, particularly among the countries of the Global South and, above all, within BRICS, who share this perspective,” she added.
Meanwhile, India also issued a strong response to what it termed as "unjustified and unreasonable" targeting by the United States and European Union over its energy ties with Russia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the U.S. threats of further tariff hikes, particularly related to India's continued oil imports from Russia.
Highlighting the double standards of the West, the MEA stated, “The Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilisers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel, and machinery and transport equipment. The U.S. continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for EVs, and fertilisers from Russia. In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified.”
India reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding its national interest and economic security, asserting that it would not yield to coercive tactics. “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to protect its strategic and economic autonomy,” the statement added.
President Donald Trump’s Executive Order, titled "Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates", imposed an across-the-board 25% tariff on select imports, with India among the worst affected. Though the executive order did not formally include punitive clauses on India's Russian oil imports, Trump publicly warned of "further penalties" should New Delhi persist in energy trade with Moscow.
