In a blunt message, US Senator Lindsey Graham has stated that US President Donald Trump will impose 100 per cent tariffs on nations still buying oil from Russia. In a recent interview with Fox News, Graham specifically named India, China and Brazil.
The senator didn’t mince words. “If you continue buying cheap Russian oil, we will impose tariffs and we will crush your economy.”
Graham argued these three nations alone account for nearly 80 per cent of Russia’s crude oil exports, accusing them of helping to bankroll Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Lindsey Graham warns countries dependent on Russian oil
The economic threat was clear. Graham said, “President Trump’s going to put a 100 per cent tariff on all those countries, punishing them for helping Putin.”
He added that the aim is to choke off the financial flows keeping Russia’s war effort going. The planned tariffs would target oil-related imports, hitting economies with deep trade ties to the United States.
“Here’s what I would tell China, India and Brazil: If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we’re going to tear the hell out of you and we’re going to crush your economy, because what you’re doing is blood money,” said Graham.
Direct message to Putin: “You played Trump at your own peril”
Graham also had a message for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“You have played President Trump at your own peril. You made a major league mistake, and your economy is going to continue to be crushed,” he said.
He added that the US was continuing to send weapons to Ukraine. “We’re flowing weapons to Ukraine, so Ukraine will have the weapons to fight Putin back.”
Graham accused Putin of attempting to rebuild the Soviet Union by force. “Putin wants to take countries that are not his. In the mid-90s, Ukraine gave up 1,700 nuclear weapons with a promise that their sovereignty would be respected by Russia. Putin broke that promise.”
Lindsay Graham compares Trump to a sports champion
In a more colourful remark, Graham likened Trump’s approach to that of the world’s top golfer, Scottie Scheffler.
“Donald Trump is the Scotty Scheffler of American politics and foreign diplomacy, and he’s about to put a whooping on your ass.”
Scheffler, currently world number one in men’s golf, has held the top spot for over 100 weeks and has won four major titles.
Graham’s broader point was that the global oil trade cannot be separated from political consequences. He said countries still buying Russian oil were choosing short-term gain over international responsibility.
“You’re buying cheap Russian oil at the expense of the world, and President Trump is tired of this game,” he said.
He warned that while Russia might absorb sanctions and continue its campaign, nations with close economic links to the United States would not escape without consequences.
“China, India, and Brazil — they’re about to face a choice between the American economy or helping Putin. And I think they’re going to come pick the American economy,” Graham said.
Despite Western sanctions, Russia has continued exporting large volumes of crude oil. Since 2022, after the Ukraine invasion, many European nations scaled back purchases. But others, including India, China and Brazil, increased imports, often at discounted rates.
The US has raised concerns over this shift, arguing that the revenue supports Russia’s ongoing military operations. The Biden administration has taken a softer diplomatic approach, but Trump, if re-elected, appears set to tighten economic screws.
Senator Graham’s comments suggest that under a Trump presidency, economic pressure will replace persuasion — with tariffs as the weapon of choice.
Source Name : Economic Times