The Kremlin has delivered a powerful message to the United States, blasting President Donald Trump’s threat of revised tariffs against India. In a Tuesday statement, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that “sovereign countries should have and do have the right to choose their own trading partners,” and called US efforts to prevent this “illegal.”
Trump’s warning, which he posted on social media, accused India of buying large quantities of Russian oil and reselling it for “big profits.” He connected this trade to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and threatened to “substantially” increase tariffs on Indian goods. These threats add to the 25% tariff that the US had already imposed on India on August 1.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued its own firm response, accusing the US and European Union of unfairly targeting New Delhi. The statement reiterated that the government would take “all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” a clear indication that it would not yield to US pressure.
The diplomatic confrontation underscores the challenges facing the global economic order. Russia’s defense of India’s trade policies solidifies their relationship and highlights a shared rejection of what they see as coercive US policies. The situation showcases a new era of international relations where countries are increasingly asserting their right to strategic autonomy.
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