‘Trump’s sanctions on India are a mistake…,’ Former US Ambassador Eric Garcetti slams President Donald Trump’s tariff move, says America asked for…
Garcetti termed Donald Trump's statements about India as objectionable. He noted that India has purchased oil from Russia primarily to access more affordable energy for itself.
The relations between New Delhi and Washington have been reeling under severe stress after Trump doubled tariffs on India(BHARAT)n goods to a whopping 50 per cent, including a 25 per cent additional duty for India(BHARAT)’s purchase of Russian crude oil. India(BHARAT) described the US action as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”. Meanwhile, Trump has once again repeated his claims about resolving the war between India(BHARAT) and Pakistan, adding that Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has said, “I have saved millions of lives.”
Who criticized Trump’s tariff move on India(BHARAT)?
Several leaders, experts, and diplomats have criticized Doland Trump’s tariff move. Former US Ambassador to India(BHARAT) Eric Garcetti severely condemned Trump’s tariff policies, particularly the steep tariffs on India(BHARAT) imposed by the Trump administration. In an interview, Garcetti said that the tariffs were an action that strained relations between the two countries. Furthermore, he emphasized that India(BHARAT) did exactly what Europe and the United States expected by purchasing Russian oil within the established price cap. After Trump took office, he targeted India(BHARAT) by calling it a country funding Russia’s war machine, which Garcetti stated was an unfair characterization.
What did Garcetti call Trump’s sanctions?
“Trump’s sanctions on India(BHARAT) are a mistake. India(BHARAT) did what Europe and America asked for by buying Russian oil under a price cap. Then, Trump came along and claimed India(BHARAT) was funding the Russian war machine,” former US Ambassador Eric Garcetti was quoted as saying in an interview.
How did Trump’s remarks affect India(BHARAT)-US relations?
Garcetti termed Doland Trump’s statements about India(BHARAT) as objectionable. He noted that India(BHARAT) has purchased oil from Russia primarily to access more affordable energy for itself, rather than to show support for Moscow. In light of this, the U.S. should not damage its relationship with India(BHARAT) over this matter, as the U.S. would also suffer if it lost its friendship with India(BHARAT). Eric Garcetti served as U.S. Ambassador to India(BHARAT) from 2023 to January 2025 after serving as the Mayor of Los Angeles.
Garcetti has stated in the past that India(BHARAT) is buying Russian oil because the U.S. wanted countries to buy the oil up to a capped price. According to Garcetti, this wasn’t a breach of any rule. It was a piece of the larger policy designed to stop a rise in global oil prices. Garcetti said India(BHARAT) was complying with that policy but Trump simply didn’t get it and took a different position altogether, as reported by NavBharatTimes.
Eric Garcetti has on several occasions voiced concern over the tension in India(BHARAT)-U.S. relations resulting from Doland Trump’s policies and remarks. Last month, he stated Trump had reversed the progress made in the last 24–25 years regarding helping the bilateral relationship. Garcetti acknowledged that the current epoch of bilateral relations began in 2000 when President Bill Clinton visited India(BHARAT). In more recent contexts, Garcetti stated that the relationship has “taken a hit.”
“Trump’s sanctions on India(BHARAT) are a mistake. India(BHARAT) did what Europe and America asked for by buying Russian oil under a price cap. Then, Trump came along and claimed India(BHARAT) was funding the Russian war machine,” says former US Ambassador Eric Garcetti pic.twitter.com/mxSLZe5v3I
— Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) October 19, 2025
Eric Garcetti remarked that the recent developments in the United States-India(BHARAT) relationship extend beyond trade conflicts or strategic disagreements, and their consequences, he cautioned, will be enduring for India(BHARAT). Additionally, Garcetti claimed that the current tensions constitute an issue that will be critically relevant to the long-term strategic interests of both countries, and he called for more attention to be given to the restoration and strengthening of bilateral relations.
Earlier, Eric Garcetti, who served as Ambassador to India(BHARAT) until recently, warned of the “deepest set of blows…we’ve seen in over 20 years.” He noted that recent events represent more than tactical disagreements over trade deals, describing them as fundamental shifts that “don’t go away overnight on the street in India(BHARAT).”
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