The Biden-Trump transition in US foreign policy has not altered one underlying theme: Washington’s willingness to use economic coercion as a tool to enforce compliance with its geopolitical objectives. The latest flashpoint is India, which finds itself in the crosshairs of American tariff policies due to its continued purchases of Russian oil. Reports from Axios and India Today suggest that the US is now pressuring the European Union to follow its lead and impose similar penalties on New Delhi-a move that risks widening divisions within the West, straining ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, and fueling a potential trade war that could reshape global alliances.

The United States first slapped a 25% tariff on Indian goods in early August after trade negotiations broke down. Instead of de-escalating, the White House doubled down with an additional 25% tariff-explicitly linked to India’s energy trade with Russia. US President Donald Trump framed these measures as punishment for New Delhi’s refusal to reduce purchases of Russian crude and military hardware, accusing India of indirectly “funding” Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.

With a combined 50% tariff burden now targeting Indian exports, Washington appears intent on expanding the pressure campaign. According to sources cited by Axios, the US is lobbying European states to mirror these measures, demanding not just trade restrictions but also a total halt to oil and gas imports from Russia. In Washington’s eyes, this would close loopholes that allow Moscow to maintain revenue streams despite Western sanctions.

Yet the push to rope in European allies has revealed growing cracks in the Western camp. A White House official quoted by Axios delivered unusually blunt criticism of EU policymakers, accusing them of prolonging the Ukraine war by rejecting........

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