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New Delhi Must Stand Up To Donald Trump S Unrelenting Bullying And Hypocrisy
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Firstpost•13-10-2026, 16:37
New Delhi Must Stand Up To Donald Trump S Unrelenting Bullying And Hypocrisy
- •US President Donald Trump has subjected India to repeated insults, heavy tariffs, and baseless accusations during his second term over Russian arms and energy purchases.
- •Despite criticizing India for buying Russian oil, the White House has continued its own trade with Moscow, exposing blatant hypocrisy in US foreign policy.
- •Trump has also resorted to direct threats against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and disparaged India publicly while cozying up to Pakistan.
- •India's Ministry of External Affairs has responded with traditional diplomatic protests, but experts argue that such mild measures are no longer effective against Trump's bullying.
- •New Delhi needs to adopt a tougher stance, such as recalling the Indian ambassador for consultations, to establish firm red lines in the bilateral relationship.
Key Questions Answered
In July 2025, US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs and penalties over India's Russian arms and energy purchases, which the White House subsequently raised to 50 per cent on August 27, 2025.
India's Ministry of External Affairs criticized Trump's remarks as "unjustified and unreasonable" while highlighting continued Western trade with Russia, and later called a social media insult characterizing India as a "hellhole" uninformed, inappropriate, and in poor taste.
Threats have emerged to levy 100 per cent tariffs on India under the terms of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, targeting countries continuing to purchase Russian fuel.
