In a bold assertion of economic pressure diplomacy, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order slapping a 25% tariff on imports from 69 countries, India among them, effective 7 August. The decision signals deepening frustration within the Trump administration over stalled trade negotiations and India’s unwavering defense and energy ties with Russia. Beyond the blanket tariff, India also faces additional punitive measures for its sustained purchase of Russian crude oil and military hardware. White House officials describe the move as a “corrective remedy” aimed at fast-tracking a comprehensive trade deal, while also warning that India’s balancing act between Washington and Moscow is increasingly viewed as a strategic liability in the evolving US-India relationship.
Amid escalating tensions over US tariffs and strategic alignments, India remains firm in preserving its foreign policy and long-standing ties with Russia, despite mounting pressure from Washington. Commenting on US President Donald Trump’s recent executive order imposing a tariff on India linked to its defense and energy cooperation with Russia. Ash Narain Roy, a leading Indian international relations expert, described the move as “an intended snub” and “almost like a slap.” He emphasized that India’s relationship with Russia is not transactional but rooted in decades of mutual trust and strategic cooperation, particularly within frameworks like BRICS. While New Delhi will continue trade negotiations with Washington in pursuit of a fair compromise, Roy stressed that India will not alter its time-tested partnerships under external pressure. He dismissed the notion of succumbing to US sanctions, underscoring India’s sovereign right to engage with nations of its choosing. Roy also criticized Washington’s double standards, calling out historical US actions in Vietnam, Latin America, and Cuba. As Trump labels India’s and Russia’s economies “dead” and threatens punitive tariffs unless a Ukraine settlement emerges within 50 days, India signals strategic resilience, balancing global partnerships without compromising its national interests.
India’s foreign policy tightrope is facing an unprecedented strain as Trump returns to the White House with aggressive pressure tactics aimed at both New Delhi and Beijing. His claim of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan by threatening both with trade penalties has been seized upon by India’s opposition as evidence of Modi’s diminished global stature. At the same time, China is quietly discouraging multinationals like Apple from expanding operations in India, denting its ambition to become a manufacturing hub. Modi, who once juggled ties with Washington and Moscow with strategic finesse, buying discounted oil from Russia while attending Quad summits, now finds himself increasingly cornered. Trump’s threat of “secondary sanctions” on Russian oil buyers targets India directly, unsettling its energy security calculus. With more than a third of its oil imports coming from Russia, and OPEC+ alternatives being costlier, India sees no incentive to back down. Yielding to US pressure would signal weakness at home, especially as domestic opposition gains ground.
Trump’s confrontational approach may ultimately backfire by pushing India closer to China and Russia, the very outcome Washington seeks to avoid. Modi, already unwilling to open up politically sensitive sectors like GM agriculture and dairy, has signaled no tolerance for unilateral US demands. The perception that Trump equates India with Pakistan, further inflamed by his hosting of Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir, has dealt a blow to bilateral trust. Even after early signs of cooperation, including goodwill tariff cuts and trade negotiations, Trump’s tactics have hardened positions on both sides. India’s trade officials returned from Washington in July, preparing for a no-deal scenario. With Trump now focused on Putin and threatening energy-based leverage, India’s policy of “strategic autonomy” remains its north star, hedging between great powers without committing entirely to one. As a former US intelligence official noted, “India doesn’t have all its eggs in one basket, and that’s the whole point.”
As global geopolitics pivot toward multipolarity, Russia’s renewed proposal to revive the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral mechanism, now openly welcomed by Beijing, marks a significant strategic development. In an era defined by US unilateralism, sanctions, and tariff wars under the “America First” doctrine, the revitalization of RIC signals a potential counterweight to Western-led blocs. China’s endorsement underscores a shared interest in forging a Eurasian axis capable of influencing global governance, economic frameworks, and security architectures. For Moscow, the bloc reinforces strategic depth amid Western isolation; for Beijing, it strengthens its flanking maneuver against American encirclement; and for New Delhi, it presents a vital opportunity to reaffirm its non-aligned, sovereign foreign policy doctrine. If India joins the initiative with calibrated pragmatism, the RIC could emerge as a formidable platform for regional stability, diplomatic coordination, and a rebalanced global order, diminishing the gravitational pull of US-led alliances like the Quad and NATO’s extended partnerships in Asia.
In a nutshell, the US tariff policy is unlikely to significantly impact India’s core interests. India is poised to deepen its strategic and defense partnership with Russia, a key ally and major supplier of oil. At the same time, New Delhi is signaling a pragmatic approach toward China, setting aside rivalries and border disputes to build a more cooperative relationship. This underscores a fundamental truth in India’s foreign policy: there are no permanent friends or foes, only enduring national interests. Ironically, Trump’s tariff measures and pressure tactics may accelerate closer ties between Russia, India, and China, forging a stronger trilateral alliance. For India, the priority remains clear: safeguarding its sovereignty and pursuing a balanced, multipolar engagement that secures its long-term national interests.
