A senior adviser to Donald Trump accused India on 4 August of helping finance Russia’s war in Ukraine through its ongoing oil trade with Moscow, sparking backlash from Indian officials and raising questions about future US-India ties.
Richard Grenell, a close Trump ally and former acting Director of National Intelligence, claimed India’s crude oil purchases from Russia are “bankrolling” President Vladimir Putin’s war efforts. Speaking at a conservative conference in Washington, Grenell said: “India is not neutral. They’re funding the war.”
India has significantly ramped up imports of discounted Russian oil since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, arguing it is acting in its national interest and not violating international law. New Delhi insists the trade is essential for its energy security and has resisted pressure from Western nations to curb purchases.
Grenell’s remarks, while not official US policy, have drawn concern in India as Trump remains the Republican frontrunner in the 2024 election. Indian officials privately pushed back against the accusation, calling it a “mischaracterisation” of the country’s position.
India has walked a delicate diplomatic line since the start of the war, criticising civilian casualties and calling for peace, while continuing to maintain close ties with both Russia and the United States.
Analysts say Grenell’s comments could signal a tougher stance from a future Trump administration, particularly if it shifts toward a more transactional foreign policy. “India may find itself under greater scrutiny if Trump returns to office,” said one South Asia policy expert.
The Biden administration has so far avoided directly criticising India’s oil trade with Russia, focusing instead on strengthening strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. However, US officials have quietly expressed frustration with the scale of India’s energy dealings with Moscow.
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A senior adviser to Donald Trump accused India on 4 August of helping finance Russia’s war in Ukraine through its ongoing oil trade with Moscow, spa...
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A former US Army soldier suspected of fatally shooting four people in rural Montana remains at large as of 4 August, authorities said, triggering a state-wide manhunt and warnings to residents.
Belgium has launched a humanitarian aid mission to the Gaza Strip, officials confirmed on 4 August, as the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn territory continues to worsen.
Iran on 4 August approved the creation of a National Defence Council, following June’s brief air conflict with Israel, the country’s most serious military confrontation since the 1980s war with Iraq.
Hamas on 4 August said it is ready to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver humanitarian aid to hostages held in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions, as outrage mounts over the deteriorating condition of captives and a rising death toll from hunger.
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According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
Supporters of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro gathered in São Paulo on 3 August, calling for justice reform and denouncing legal cases against the far-right leader as politically motivated.
On 4 August, relatives of missing persons and human rights activists marched through Mexico City, demanding answers and justice amid the country’s ongoing crisis of enforced disappearances.
Democratic lawmakers in Texas left the state on 4 August in a dramatic move to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass a redistricting plan backed by Donald Trump, aiming to preserve the GOP's narrow House majority ahead of the 2026 elections.
A former US Army soldier suspected of fatally shooting four people in rural Montana remains at large as of 4 August, authorities said, triggering a state-wide manhunt and warnings to residents.
Belgium has launched a humanitarian aid mission to the Gaza Strip, officials confirmed on 4 August, as the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn territory continues to worsen.
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