India's NSA Ajit Doval Lands in Moscow Amid Escalating US-India Tensions
India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for a scheduled high-level visit focused on strengthening India-Russia strategic cooperation, defense partnerships, and energy trade, an Indian official was cited as confirming to Russian news agency TASS.
According to sources cited, Doval's meetings in Moscow are expected to cover a wide range of issues, including ongoing defense cooperation, security collaboration, and the continued supply of Russian crude oil to India.
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| File Image Source: India In Russia |
Doval’s trip comes just a day after U.S. President Donald Trump doubled down on his threat to hike tariffs on Indian imports, citing India’s Russian oil purchases as a key concern.
In an interview with CNBC, Trump criticized India as “not a good trading partner” and warned that existing 25% tariffs would be raised “very substantially within the next 24 hours.”
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On his Truth Social platform, Trump earlier wrote: “India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then... selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine.”
This diplomatic backdrop has cast a sharper spotlight on Doval’s Moscow visit, which underscores India’s efforts to maintain strong bilateral ties with Russia even amid intensifying U.S. pressure.
India has not yet officially responded to Trump’s latest remarks, but on August 4, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a pointed statement defending its energy procurement strategy.
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The statement rejected accusations that India is funding Russia’s war effort, calling such claims “unjustified and unreasonable.”
It further noted that Western nations themselves continue to trade extensively with Russia, citing high volumes of European LNG imports and U.S. purchases of Russian uranium and palladium.
Doval’s visit also comes at a time when Russia has officially withdrawn from the 1987 INF Treaty, citing a “direct threat” from Western militarization.
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Move Coming in 24 Hours: Trump Threatens Steep Tariff Hike on India Over Russian Oil Trade Again
India, historically one of Russia’s largest defense and energy partners, has consistently argued for strategic autonomy in its global relationships.
Doval’s visit is seen as a reaffirmation of that principle, as New Delhi balances its security needs, trade interests, and geopolitical alignments amid a rapidly shifting global order.
The meetings in Moscow are also expected to review ongoing military-industrial cooperation, including joint projects and technology transfers, as well as mechanisms to secure uninterrupted energy flows amidst international sanctions.
In Ajit Doval's engagement with senior Russian officials, both sides are expected to explore ways to deepen cooperation beyond traditional defense areas, including cybersecurity, intelligence sharing, and the stabilization of key supply chains in a world facing increasing fragmentation.