Astha Pandey/VOIWORLD
In one heated exchange with a reporter, U.S. President Donald Trump turned a question about Russia into a
spotlight on “India”. By pointing out the first and second round of overall 50% tariffs on Indian goods as
“evidence of action” against Moscow, Trump reframed Washington’s Russia policy through the lens of the
U.S. and India trade tensions.
Following the interaction, diplomatic experts were quick to react by stating that the outburst of the President
over the U.S.-Russia relations, foreshadowing the Alaska Summit and personal dialogue instead pointing
fingers at America’s most important Asian partner is a risky move and might turn into collateral damage.
Further on by dismissing the reporter with the cutting line, “You ought to get yourself a new job,” Trump
doubled down on the idea that India’s trade strain is a part of his ‘Indirect Action on Russia’ strategy.
At the Alaska summit, Trump failed to secure new commitments on Russia, instead using India tariffs as his
defense against being “soft” on Putin. Weeks later, the entire world witnessed the SCO summit, where
Indian PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared the spotlight. Their interaction and
Russia’s new discount for India over oil trade signals that Washington’s pressure may sting, but Moscow and
New Delhi are writing their own rules of engagement.
Whereas, a 50% tariff by the USA on Indian exports landed hardest on textiles, pharmaceuticals, and farm
goods, fueling serious concerns over the Balance of Payment as dollar inflows slowed while energy import
costs stayed elevated. The rupee wobbled in response, but Moscow’s deeper oil discounts came as a wave of
relief, lowering India’s crude bill and as a soft defence against the trade and dollar shock.
In the end, what was meant to punish India for trading with Russia only deepened New Delhi’s
reliance on Moscow turning Trump’s economic pressure into a catalyst for closer strategic and
energy ties between the two nations.
