US President Donald Trump is using the threat of strict tariffs to try to push India from Russia while pressing Russian President Vladimir Putin, ending the war in Ukraine. But decades of narrow political, political and military relations between Nova Delhi and Moscow mean that Trump faces the challenge of persuading Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to abandon a partnership that survived great geopolitical turmoil.
In recent days, Trump has criticized India for his strong dependence on Russian oil imports, as well as his longtime purchases of Russian military equipment. On Wednesday, 6, the president imposed on India an additional 25% rate on his US exports-bending the existing 25% rate, which came into force earlier this month-as a punishment for his continuous purchase of Russian oil.
Despite tariffs that can cause real damage to the Indian economy, Modi remained firm in the face of growing American pressure-a sign of the importance of Russia’s relationships for the South-Asian giant.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India has classified the penalty as “unfair, unjustified and irrational” and promised that India “will” take all the necessary measures to protect its national interests. ” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier this week that “sovereign countries should have and have the right to choose their own business partners.”
On Friday, 8, Modi wrote in X that he had a “good and detailed conversation with my friend, President Putin.” “I thanked him for sharing the latest events about Ukraine,” wrote the prime minister, adding that leaders “reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the special and privileged strategic partnership.” He said he expects Putin to visit India later this year.
Since the Cold War, Russia has been one of India’s most constant partners in a relationship anchored in arms agreements, economic cooperation and diplomatic support to New Delhi, in his confrontation with the China and Pakistan regional rivals. In turn, Moscow approached India after increasing tensions in the 1960s between the Soviet Union and Beijing. Source: Dow Jones Newswires*.
