“Our European allies have refused to put tariffs on India for buying Russian energy. That’s because they want to sign a big trade deal with India,” Bessent said in an interview with Politico.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has claimed that European nations refrained from imposing tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil because they are pursuing a major trade agreement with New Delhi.
“Our European allies have refused to put tariffs on India for buying Russian energy. That’s because they want to sign a big trade deal with India,” Bessent said in an interview with Politico.
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Earlier last year, US President Donald Trump had imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, including a 25 per cent penalty for purchasing oil from the Russian Federation.
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Accusing India of sponsoring Russia’s war in Ukraine, Trump had urged European countries to impose 100 per cent tariffs on India and China. However, European nations did not take action against India.
Amid rising tensions between the US and Europe over the issue of Greenland, Bessent criticised what he described as “virtue-signalling European allies,” accusing them of indirectly funding Russia’s war—an allegation previously levelled by Trump against India.
“In the ultimate act of irony and stupidity, guess who was buying the refined products from Indian refineries made from Russian oil? The Europeans. They are financing the war against themselves. They are financing the Russian war,” Bessent said.
His remarks came days after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union is close to finalising a historic free trade agreement with India, describing it as the “mother of all deals.”
She said the agreement, once concluded, would significantly strengthen economic ties and deepen cooperation between Europe and India.
Earlier today, von der Leyen arrived in India. She, along with President of the European Council António Luís Santos da Costa, will attend the 77th Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path on January 26 as chief guests.
During the visit, the two European leaders are scheduled to hold a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 27. According to reports, the trade deal could be announced following the meeting.
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