U.S. Treasury Secretary supports Trump’s “bold leadership” when the president urges NATO members to stop buying Russian oil
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant praised President Donald Trump’s decision as an example of “bold leadership” and said in an article on X that everyone must unite to stop the cycle of war and death. President Trump has shifted his attention to NATO allies after imposing punitive tariffs on imports of oil from Russia, saying their continued purchase of Russian oil is “shocking”.
Thank you, @RealDonaldTrumpfor your bold leadership. Only through unified efforts can we fund Putin’s war machine at the source, and we can put enough economic pressure to end the meaningless killing. pic.twitter.com/8y8nogojpy
– Finance Minister Scott Bessent (@secscottbessent) September 13, 2025
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He warned that if the U.S. continues to buy oil from Moscow, the U.S. could impose tariffs of 50% to 100% on China.
“NATO’s commitment to victory (the Ukrainian War) is much more than 100%, and some people’s purchase of Russian oil is shocking,” he posted on Saturday’s Truth Social.
Trump earlier imposed a punitive tariff of 25% on India’s oil imports to Russia – in addition to the existing 25% mutual tariffs, while NATO members have escaped similar fines for purchasing oil from Russia.
“I am ready to impose major sanctions on Russia when all NATO countries agree and start doing the same thing, and when all NATO countries stop buying oil from Russia,” he said, stressed in the topics of all capitals.
He said that NATO members stopped buying Russian oil, “as a group, NATO completely withdrew 50% to 100% tariffs after the end of the war with Russia and Ukraine, which would also be of great help in ending this deadly but ridiculous but ridiculous war.”
He challenged the military alliance, and he wrote: “I’m going to ‘go’ when you’re. Just say when.”
He pointed out that Beijing has played a huge role in Moscow and has the ability to stop the war.
“China has strong control over Russia, even grip, and these powerful tariffs will break the grip,” he said.
In fact, Trump’s warning of punitive tariffs on China is an empty threat because NATO countries (especially Turkey) are unlikely to stop their Russian trade.
According to the European Commission, the 27 members of the EU (EU) include 22 members of NATO, and the total trade in goods with Russia last year was $79.1 billion.
It imports $42.13 billion worth of goods, with fuel last year at $26.17 billion.
Last year, NATO member Turkiye’s trade with Russia was worth $52.6 billion.
By comparison, total goods transactions between India and Russia were $68.7 billion in the last fiscal year and imports were $63.84 billion.
Asked about the double standards when imposing punitive tariffs on India, Trump’s nominee Sergio Gor gave the Senate panel a confusing answer: “Frankly, we expect India to expect more than other countries sometimes.”
Trump acknowledged in a Fox News interview on Friday that tariffs “had a rift with India.”
He said imposing tariffs on India was “not easy. It’s important”.
Trump said earlier this month that India and the United States are continuing trade negotiations.
Gore said India’s Commerce Secretary Piyush Goyal is expected to be held in Washington this week and will meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
He said the negotiations between the two countries boiled down to “shackles.”
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