- President Trump, in a social media post, claimed that India’s trade tariffs are among the highest in the world—almost 158%.
- On one hand, President Trump calls India a strategic partner and a friend, and on the other hand, he engages in energy deals with Pakistan, a state sponsor of terrorism.
- For India, the priority should be safeguarding its own strategic autonomy and economic sovereignty.
In an unprecedented move, President Donald Trump has announced a 25% reciprocal tariff penalty on India. This announcement comes just 24 hours before the August deadline and closely follows the conclusion of the second round of trade negotiations between India and the United States.
Last week, the Indian trade representative walked out of talks in the U.S. without reaching a deal. President Trump, in a social media post, claimed that India’s trade tariffs are among the highest in the world—almost 158%. He also cited India’s growing trade ties with Russia, including large-scale purchases of crude oil and weapons, as one of the reasons behind the imposition of this tariff.
While the Indian government was surprised by the 25% tariff, there had been hopes that both sides would reach an agreement. However, that agreement has not been signed, and this sudden move has raised concerns.
Meanwhile, China—Russia’s largest trading partner—has concluded the second round of trade talks with the United States in Sweden. Both the U.S. and China remain optimistic about reaching a deal. In response to the tariff announcement, the Indian government issued an official statement saying it is evaluating the potential impact and that talks with the U.S. will continue. India also stated that it would take a reasonable approach to President Trump’s tariff policy.
But that’s not all. Soon after targeting India, President Trump also announced agreements with South Korea and, more surprisingly, with Pakistan. He claimed that the U.S. would help Pakistan build its strategic oil reserves and that American companies would collaborate with Pakistani counterparts. He even hinted that oil produced through this partnership could one day be exported to India.
This raises serious concerns about U.S. policy and its so-called stance against terrorism. On one hand, President Trump calls India a strategic partner and a friend. On the other hand, he engages in energy deals with Pakistan, a state sponsor of terrorism. If Trump truly views Pakistan as a terror sponsor, then he should isolate it, not empower it through energy partnerships.
This contradiction exposes the double standards and strategic hypocrisy of the U.S. government. It also highlights a deeper geopolitical reality: Pakistan remains too strategically important for the U.S. to abandon. This relationship did not begin under President Trump; it has existed for decades. Pakistan was created and supported by the West to counterbalance India, and this cooperation continues to serve Western interests in South and Central Asia.
By partnering with Pakistan and imposing punitive tariffs on India, the United States has sent a clear message. India must now accept the reality that the U.S. will not always stand by its side, despite warm rhetoric. The Indian government has always prioritised national interest in its trade and strategic decisions, including with Russia. It is not just India that continues to import Russian oil—European countries are doing the same. Yet, India alone is being singled out.
This selective targeting shows that the real issue is not India’s ties with Russia, but the discomfort of Western powers with India’s economic rise and strategic independence. The U.S. wants to control trade relationships on its own terms, and tariffs are merely a tool to restructure bilateral deals in its favour. Had these tariffs not been imposed, countries wouldn’t be forced to alter existing trade structures. India must now prepare for the long-term reality: the U.S.-Pakistan partnership is not new, and it’s not going away. Washington will always try to balance its ties between India and Pakistan based on its own interests. For India, the priority should be safeguarding its own strategic autonomy and economic sovereignty.
Moreover, expecting India to buy expensive oil from distant markets, ignoring cheaper Russian options, is unrealistic. With a population of 1.4 billion, India’s purchasing power parity is relatively low. It cannot afford to compromise its economic stability just to meet the expectations of Western powers.
The U.S. must learn to differentiate between a nation’s sovereign interests and global narratives of terrorism. India’s trade policies reflect its national interest—and that is something it will not compromise on.
Aayush Pal is a freelance writer on contemporary geopolitical developments. The views expressed in his work are entirely his own.
Yashwanth A S 
John T Guite and Vinay N Bhushan