Why India Won’t Bow to Trump’s 50% Tariff Threat: Doval in Moscow, Modi Heads to China

India’s Ministry of External Affairs recently highlighted US-Russia trade worth $3.5 billion in 2024, accusing Washington of hypocrisy while criticizing India’s Russian oil imports. Trump, confronted with these figures, responded, “I don’t know,” brushing off the question.

Ambassador Sinha urged caution, stressing the Indo-US relationship’s strategic importance but underscoring that India’s self-respect was non-negotiable. Sareen compared Trump’s approach to an “East India Company model,” warning against one-sided trade demands and calling for stronger domestic capabilities. Tavleen Singh viewed Trump’s pressure as part of a larger geopolitical push against Russia, urging India to stand firm while addressing economic reforms at home.

The panel also touched on Rahul Gandhi’s remarks linking PM Modi’s stance to industrialist Adani, which all guests dismissed as political distraction. Despite differing tones, all agreed India must balance diplomacy with self-reliance, strengthen economic infrastructure, and refuse to be coerced into unequal agreements.

Bottomline by Barkha:
“In the end, India’s heft will come from its economic strength. The real strategy is to be too big to be treated like this.”

Quote from the discussion:
“There is no question of compromising our self-respect. Our position is crystal clear—we cannot be steamrolled.” – Ambassador Yash Sinha