English
English
English
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivered a strong message to Donald Trump on his obscurantist demands. While giving an interview, he ostensibly backed India and China and said that these countries are ancient and have a rich history of not bowing down to forceful demands.
The friendship of India and Russia stands firm amid US tariffs pressure
New Delhi: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has strongly criticized US trade policy and the pressure being exerted on India and China. He categorically stated that ancient civilizations like India and China will not bow to US "threats and ultimatums." This statement comes at a time when the US, especially former President Donald Trump and his allies, has already imposed several tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil.
What did Sergey Lavrov say?
Speaking on "The Great Game," a major Russian TV channel, Lavrov said, "China and India are ancient civilizations. If you tell them, 'Either obey me, or I will impose tariffs'—that approach will not work."
He also stated that this US policy is not only causing economic harm but also generating moral and political opposition.
Why is America pressuring India?
Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the US has pressured several countries to ban the purchase of Russian oil. When India continued to purchase oil, the US increased the import duty from 25% to 50%. This tariff came into effect on August 27.
India-US trade deal in limbo
Although negotiations are underway between India and the US on an interim trade agreement, the tariff hike has dealt a blow to these discussions. Many allies of the Trump administration are accusing India of adopting an "unfair trade policy."
US advisors level sharp accusations against India
Peter Navarro, former White House trade advisor, targeted India, calling it the "King of Tariffs." He alleged that Indian businesses are profiting from trade with Russia, while ordinary Indian workers are suffering losses.
PM Modi, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping seen together on the SCO platform
He even went so far as to say that "the Brahmin class is ignoring the interests of the Indian people."
Meanwhile, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also criticized India's tariff policy, saying, "India boasts of a 1.4 billion-strong population, yet it doesn't even buy American corn."
Lavrov's response to new sanctions on Russia
Regarding the continued imposition of new sanctions on Russia, Lavrov said, "Unprecedented sanctions were imposed during Trump's tenure, and now the Biden administration has abandoned diplomacy and resorted to sanctions alone."
He said that Russia is now learning from this situation and is "moving toward alternatives." The Russian Foreign Minister's statement clearly sends a message to the US that "countries like India and China will no longer yield to pressure."
Russian support for India's policy indicates that the global balance of power is shifting. US tariff policy, pressure to halt energy purchases from Russia, and India-China resistance to this could now determine the direction of future global trade and diplomacy.
