- For the discerning lot interested in the fast-happening geopolitical and geostrategic scenario, the most obvious aspect would be the amount of discomfiture caused by Donald Trump’s pet tariff imposition on products entering the USA. He has acted upon his poll promise of imposing diverse tariffs on countries that he believes are having an advantage vis-à-vis the USA. Trump has firmly concretized the notion that the USA’s interests are best served by imposing import tariffs on countries ostensibly to rectify the trade deficit. Alongside tariffs, Trump is also aiming to be recognized as a global peacemaker by relentlessly pushing ahead with ceasefire/peace deals between several warring countries, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
PC: Newstrack
- We know how the recent summit meeting between Washington and Moscow was conducted in Alaska at the behest of Trump. Also, India finds itself in the crosshairs of the tariff war, with a 25% tariff already imposed and an additional 25% set to take effect from August 27 for the purchase of Russian oil. India’s best response to Trump’s diplomatic endeavours is to keep back channels open. For all that we know, Trump’s personalized foreign policy is turning out to be a double-edged sword even as the peace deal in the Ukraine war gathers pace. Of course, Trump wants to take credit for every perceived foreign policy win. In doing so, he also comes out as a susceptible candidate to manipulation. Just before meeting Putin in Alaska, Trump declared he wanted a ceasefire.
PC: BBC
- After that meeting, he wanted a peace deal, aligning his views with Putin’s. Similarly, some flattery by Pakistan army chief Asim Munir and a Nobel Peace Prize recommendation led Trump to declare that he loves the failed state. India, for not playing along, is being punished with secondary tariffs for buying Russian oil. Mind you, personalized diplomacy may seem to reap short-term rewards, but it does tend to be counterproductive in the long run. Why? Diplomacy isn’t a one-shot event. It’s continuous over the years. Sure, Trump might count the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal as a win for his deft diplomacy. But having leaders fuse their persona with diplomacy runs the risk of foreign policy unpredictability – they will bail if a process doesn’t align with their political goals.
PC: The Times of India
- Notably, that may be good for the countries themselves. India and the US have all the makings of natural allies, and New Delhi can be Washington’s best partner in the Indo-Pacific as a hedge against China. But Trump’s tariffs are undermining this synergy. Also, Beijing has figured out that if it holds strong and doesn’t give in to Trump’s tariff threats, it can turn the tables and win. Trump has backed down several times in the recent past. Trump is going about countering China the wrong way. New Delhi should keep up back-channel efforts in Washington to bring the Trump White House around for mutual benefit. Remember, when egos get in the way, foreign policy and long-term national interests suffer. India should be deftly handling the diplomacy here.
 with personalized diplomacy aimed at brokering peace deals in conflicts like Russia-Ukraine. While Trump seeks to position himself as a global peacemaker and address trade deficits through tariffs, this personalized approach creates unpredictability and risks undermining important strategic partnerships, particularly the natural alliance between the US and India in countering China in the Indo-Pacific.){kind=link}