President Donald Trump said Monday that he would impose higher tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil, a notable escalation in the confrontation with the world’s largest country.

“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.”

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The announcement follows statements over the weekend by Indian officials that they would continue to purchase Russian oil, contrary to Trump’s claims and in defiance of his tariff threats.

Last week, Trump announced that he would impose a new 25% tariff on goods from India as well as an additional import tax for purchasing Russian oil. Trump criticized India for purchasing a majority of its military equipment and energy from Russia “at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE.”

India is the second-largest importer of Russian oil, following China. The administration has yet to announce additional tariffs on China. 

However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week said that China would face new tariffs if it continues to buy Russian oil. “I think anyone who buys sanctioned Russian oil should be ready for this,” he said.

The use of “secondary tariffs” on third parties to punish adversaries is a novel form of economic statecraft by the Trump administration.

The U.S. and allies have used a number of new tools to try to cut down on Russia’s oil revenues, which finance its war in Ukraine, including by imposing a price cap on Russian oil purchased by Western nations.

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Further crackdowns on third-party purchases of Russian oil, though, threaten to raise the price of oil internationally.