Webdesk: US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has issued a strong warning to countries currently importing Russian oil.
He specifically pointed to India and Brazil, saying they could face trade actions under former President Donald Trump’s policies.
In an interview with Fox News, Graham stated that Trump plans to impose tariffs on countries like India and Brazil that continue to purchase Russian oil. According to Graham, nearly 80 per cent of subsidised Russian crude oil is bought by these three countries (India, Brazil, and China).
Graham argued that continued trade with Russia fuels Vladimir Putin’s war and undermines efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Expressing strong sentiments, he warned that if India and Brazil keep buying cheap Russian oil to prolong this war, they will destroy themselves. ‘We will ruin their economies. What they are doing is dealing in blood money.’
Graham added that the Trump administration is prepared to take decisive action.
Graham said the Trump team plans to issue a 50-day ultimatum to Putin to end the war after taking office.
Failing to comply will result in harsh sanctions, including penalties on countries that continue to buy oil and support the Russian economy.
A bill proposing a 500 per cent tariff on buyers of Russian oil is currently pending in the US Senate. However, Graham’s remarks are being viewed as a sign of the Trump camp’s aggressive stance on foreign trade and wartime funding.
He also emphasised that American arms will continue flowing to Ukraine. Since China and India are among the biggest buyers of Russian oil, Graham’s statement could lead to tensions in US relations with two of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
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