New Delhi, August 5 — Amid escalating trade tensions triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff impositions, India has asserted its commitment to a fair and multipolar world order. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, speaking at the BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival in the national capital on Monday, underscored the importance of global equity and respect for national identities.
“We live in complicated and uncertain times. Our collective desire is to see a fair and representative global order — not one dominated by a few,” Dr. Jaishankar said. “That quest is often articulated as political or economic rebalancing. Traditions are of particular value because they define identity. We must be assured of what we are if we want to be confident in shaping the future.”
His remarks come at a time when the global trade landscape is under strain from President Trump’s unilateral tariff actions, which have targeted several countries, including India, in an effort to bring them in line with U.S. trade expectations.
U.S. Escalates Trade Pressure on India
In a sharp escalation of trade hostilities, President Trump on Monday announced a 25% tariff hike on Indian exports to the United States. He further criticized India for continuing to purchase Russian oil and defense equipment, claiming the country was “buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling it on the open market for big profits.”
“Because of this,” Trump said, “I will be substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the U.S.”
The move is widely viewed as part of Trump’s broader strategy to penalize countries for maintaining trade or energy ties with Russia, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions over the Ukraine conflict.
India Issues Firm Response
India responded swiftly and firmly to the tariff hike and accompanying accusations. In a strongly worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the new U.S. levies as “unjustified and unreasonable,” and called out what it termed the “selective morality” of the U.S. and European Union on trade with Russia.
“India’s crude oil imports from Russia are driven by necessity, dictated by prevailing global market conditions, and do not constitute a political endorsement of Moscow,” the MEA stated. “India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
The ministry also highlighted the ongoing trade between Western nations and Russia. According to official data, the European Union alone traded goods worth €67.5 billion and services worth €17.2 billion with Russia — figures that far exceed India’s trade volumes with Moscow. The MEA pointedly noted that the U.S. continues to import uranium hexafluoride from Russia to fuel its nuclear industry.
Call for Balance in Global Diplomacy
India’s strong rebuttal reflects growing frustration among Global South nations over perceived double standards in international policy enforcement. New Delhi’s stance signals a clear call for a more balanced and inclusive global order, where emerging powers are not coerced through economic measures but respected as equal stakeholders.
As geopolitical rivalries deepen and the global economy faces multiple stress points, India’s message — anchored in sovereignty, strategic autonomy, and cultural identity — resonates with many nations navigating a shifting world order.
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