Rick Sanchez, an American journalist and political analyst who presents The Sanchez Effect on Russia Today, has strongly criticised the United States for imposing tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian crude oil, describing the action as “ignorant and disrespectful.”
He argued that Donald Trump often makes decisions based on personal grudges and without relying on logical or scientific reasoning.
During a conversation with ANI, Sanchez made it clear that “India is the big boy, not a schoolchild,” stressing that India’s refusal to bow to US pressure represents what he called a transformational period that historians may view as the beginning of a power transition from Western nations to countries in the global South, including India, China, Russia, South Africa, and Brazil.
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Sanchez’s View on US Tariffs
According to Sanchez, Trump’s decision to impose tariffs totaling 50% on Indian goods, with an additional 25% tariff on oil sourced from Russia, appears to have been motivated by personal grudges rather than a properly designed geopolitical strategy.
He cited an analysis from the American investment bank Jefferies, which suggested the tariffs were rooted in personal frustration after Trump was not allowed to intervene in the India-Pakistan conflict.
Sanchez also pointed out that Trump often insists he arranged a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, even though New Delhi has publicly stated that no outside party played any role, clarifying that the ceasefire occurred after direct communication between the military officials of both countries.
Policy Called Disrespectful
In his remarks, Sanchez described Trump’s approach as one that ignores India’s historical background and its growing role on the global stage.
He said the United States continues to treat India like a child that must be guided, an attitude he dismissed as insulting. He also ridiculed comments by Trump’s aide Peter Navarro, who blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying such claims were both “uninformed and laughable.”
Accusations of Double Standards
When asked why Trump targeted India for penalties over Russian oil while avoiding sanctions on Europe and China, which still purchase energy from Russia, Sanchez explained that the approach lacked balance.
He said Trump demonstrates no stability or consistency in his decisions, adding that the US cannot be too harsh with China because its economy depends heavily on Chinese imports and loans.
Sanchez remarked that the majority of goods found in Walmart, America’s largest retailer, are produced in China, with others coming from Vietnam and Malaysia. He further stressed that the United States relies on Chinese loans to fund wars and sustain its only strong production sector, which is weapons manufacturing.
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India’s Position and Changing Dynamics
India’s government responded by condemning the tariffs as “unreasonable, unjustified, and extremely unfortunate.” Officials in the Ministry of External Affairs made it clear that the country’s decision to purchase Russian oil is guided by market realities and aimed at ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens.
Despite the new tariffs, data from the Ukrainian oil analytics firm NaftoRynok showed that in July 2025, India became Ukraine’s top diesel supplier, accounting for about 15.5% of its total diesel imports.
