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Russia’s Oil Discounts Woo India as Trump’s Tariff Gamble Backfires
Russia has deepened its grip on the Indian oil market by offering steeper crude discounts, outpacing traditional Middle Eastern suppliers. Since Western sanctions forced Moscow to redirect its energy exports, India has emerged as a top buyer, securing cheap Russian barrels that strengthen its energy security while trimming import bills.
For New Delhi, the strategy is clear: leverage discounted oil to keep inflation in check and maintain steady economic growth. Analysts say Russia’s willingness to undercut competitors has turned India into a reliable energy partner, even if it strains the West’s push for isolating Moscow.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Donald Trump’s tariff gamble is showing cracks. His sweeping import levies, designed to protect American industries and bring jobs back, are instead fueling price hikes for consumers and rattling global markets. Economists warn that such protectionism risks a backlash from trade partners, many of whom are already considering retaliatory measures.
In essence, while Russia’s energy diplomacy is paying dividends in Asia, Trump’s hardline trade policies risk backfiring at home—reshaping both global oil flows and the future of U.S. trade relation.
