India re-engages Russia and China after Trump spat

SINCE the end of the Cold War, a cornerstone of US grand strategy in the Asia-Pacific has been warming ties with India. Yet, this trajectory is now undermined by President Donald Trump’s threat to double tariffs to 50 per cent on New Delhi over its large purchases of Russian oil.

This move threatens not only to derail bilateral ties, but also the wider credibility of US strategy, which views New Delhi’s role as a growing regional counterweight to Beijing.

The proposed US tariffs, which would kick in on Aug 27, have been called “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable” by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which has vowed to “take all actions necessary to protect its national interests”. Indian legislators, including MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, echoed this sentiment. Chaturvedi accused Trump of being a “selective bully”. She pointed out that the European Union and even the US itself continue to be significant purchasers of Russian energy.