India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a sharp critique of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade and foreign policy style at the ET World Leaders Forum 2025. In particular, he took aim at Trump’s decision to slap a 50% tariff on Indian goods — plus an additional 25% due to India’s oil imports from Russia — calling the justification questionable and the approach deeply unorthodox.
Jaishankar made it clear that no prior discussions were held about India's Russian oil trade before the tariffs were announced. “This was presented as an issue,” he said — implying the rationale may be more political than principled.
He described Trump's style of governance as “public diplomacy,” noting that both domestic and foreign policies are aired openly, often with little warning. “No U.S. president has conducted foreign or internal affairs as publicly as this one,” Jaishankar said.
Trade talks are ongoing, but India maintains firm red lines around its farmers and small producers.
Russian oil purchases have become a scapegoat, even though countries like China and the EU face no similar backlash.
Mediation with Pakistan, an idea reportedly floated by Trump, is flatly rejected by New Delhi.
Jaishankar also clarified that the Biden administration had been involved in detailed conversations around India’s oil imports from Russia, which led to a price cap agreement.
In essence, the EAM’s message was firm: India is open to dialogue but won’t compromise on sovereignty or submit to public diplomacy as a form of negotiation.