- People closely following the recent geopolitical and geostrategic churnings on the back of Donald Trump’s impetuosity-induced illogical and irrational tariff war would nod in agreement to the statement made by the Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The Defence Minister mentioned that there are no permanent enemies or friends, only permanent interests. How truly apt the statement can be is gauged by the fact that India finds itself at a crossroads since Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tariff on our products. Most disconcertingly, some of the Trump administration officials speaking like loose cannons by badmouthing India buying Russian oil amply demonstrate blatant doublespeak and hypocrisy of the highest order. What did India do?
PC: AajTak
- In a deft move, Prime Minister Modi not only stood up to the bullying tactics of Trump but also made no bones about overtly shifting gears to extend hands of friendship to Beijing and also further strengthening the long-standing relationship with Russia. Needless to mention, India is right to waltz with Russia. Of course, New Delhi will be receptive to a US pivot as well, should Trump see sense sooner rather than later. America is habitually slow to acknowledge miscalculations – Vietnam, Afghanistan – but visuals of Modi-Putin camaraderie at the Tianjin SCO summit should make Trump rethink strategy. His 50% cumulative tariff clearly isn’t weaning India off Russian oil. New Delhi will not be bullied like other countries, you see.
PC: Business Today
- As optics proved, Modi firmly holding Putin’s hand, and riding in his Russian-made Aurus limo to their bilateral, was a defiance expressed in giant semaphore. Besides, indications are India is about to buy 10-20% more Russian oil this month as Ukrainian strikes have temporarily disabled some Russian refining capacity. India wants to end the war in Ukraine as much as Trump does. Modi has told Putin more than once that this is not an era of war. As for buying Russian oil, it was a policy shift urged by the Biden administration to prevent an oil shock followed by an inflationary spiral. If three years of sanctions and military support to Ukraine have not ground Putin’s war machine to a halt, it is a failure of US and Nato policies. Simple.
PC: NDTV Profit
- As such, Trump scapegoating India with punitive tariffs is the height of cynicism and hypocrisy. It is also diplomatic folly. India’s formal ties with Russia go back to 1947, and Russia has stood by India all these years. The relationship was tested as US-India ties improved this century, but Trump’s first term made India cautious. His tariff pressure over Iranian oil and Russian weapons in 2018 pushed India closer to Russia again. And now, a reenactment of history within seven years has made India wary. In a multipolar world, where the US can’t be counted upon, and any reset with China will have to be carefully calibrated, India simply can’t snap ties with Russia. India should be receptive to conciliatory gestures, if any. But it mustn’t get arm-twisted for sure.
