Russia Oil, BRICS & Tariffs: Trump’s Three Charges Against India, And Why They Don’t Hold Up

It took just six months for India–U.S. ties to go from warm embraces to a cold war of words. Donald Trump has accused India of financing Russia’s war in Ukraine, being part of an “anti‑U.S.” BRICS, and being the “tariff king” of the world. But how much of that is fact, and how much is political theatre? In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta breaks down the historical roots of India’s foreign policy - from Nehru’s non‑alignment to today’s strategic autonomy - and why New Delhi’s relationship with Moscow runs deeper than the last three years. We unpack the data on India–Russia oil trade, show how the West still does billions in business with Russia, explain India’s nuanced BRICS stance, and factcheck global tariff comparisons. Is Trump making a negotiating play, or exposing a fault line in India–U.S. relations? And is his rhetoric only pushing India further toward strategic independence?