US Sanctions and Trade War: Ambani Family Cancels New York Show Amid India-Russia Oil Dispute

Mukesh Ambani's family has postponed a theatrical extravaganza in New York due to "unforeseen circumstances." The event was scheduled for mid-September and was to be hosted by Nita Ambani, wife of Asia's richest person. The postponement comes amid US criticism of India's purchase of cheap Russian oil, with US President Donald Trump and his aides targeting Indian "energy titans," including Ambani's Reliance Industries.

Mukesh Ambani's family has postponed a theatrical extravaganza scheduled for mid-September in New York, citing "unforeseen circumstances." The event, organized by the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, was to be hosted by Nita Ambani, wife of Asia's richest person, Mukesh Ambani. The postponement comes amidst growing U.S. criticism of India's purchase of cheap Russian oil, with U.S. President Donald Trump and his aides targeting Indian "energy titans," including Reliance Industries [2].

The event, known as the "India Weekend," was to feature key attractions such as a show by Michelin star chef Vikas Khanna and designer Manish Malhotra. However, the postponement has been attributed to the ongoing geopolitical tensions between India and the U.S., particularly over India's purchase of discounted Russian oil. The U.S. has imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods to penalize it for these purchases, accusing India of profiteering from the discounted oil [3].

In his annual speech to Reliance shareholders, Mukesh Ambani highlighted the uncertainty caused by geopolitical headwinds, noting that "conflict produces no winners." He emphasized the importance of cooperation between nations for trade to flourish and investments to grow. The Ambani family remains committed to bringing the event to New York at a later date [2].

The postponement of the "India Weekend" event is the latest casualty of the ongoing U.S.-India trade tensions. The U.S. has been critical of India's Russian oil imports, accusing politically connected Indian companies of war profiteering. Despite the tariffs, India has appeared defiant and is seeking to strengthen ties with Russia, including a recent visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China to meet with President Vladimir Putin [2].

References:
[1] https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-mukesh-ambani-s-reliance-industries-sundar-pichai-s-google-mark-zuckerberg-s-meta-announces-partnership-in-ril-visions-for-ai-3178374
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-01/ambani-family-defers-new-york-show-amid-testy-india-us-ties
[3] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L1N3UK0F4:0-india-s-russian-oil-imports-set-to-rise-in-september-in-defiance-of-us/