India’s geopolitical response to weaponisation of tariffs

Recent developments over the past few weeks are poised to fundamentally transform the Indian foreign policy narrative.

- Gulshan Sachdeva

In the same vein as Donald Trump's use of tariffs for his administration’s foreign policy objectives, India has chosen foreign policy as a tool to respond to Trump's tariff tantrums. The recent thaw in India-China relations — the proposed visit of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to China for the SCO summit will be its highlight — the PM’s telephone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Brazilian President Lula da Silva, and Putin's upcoming visit to India, are all steps in this direction. Focus on the Indo-Pacific and Quad is being balanced with a proposal floated to revive the Russia-India-China (RIC) format meetings — though India is yet to make its stand on the same clear. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi is also set to travel to India on August 18.

This, however, does not mean that New Delhi underestimates the importance of its ties with the US or has lost hope of concluding a trade deal with Washington. Rather, it is a geopolitical response to the weaponisation of tariffs by the US. If the August 15 Trump-Putin meeting brings about a breakthrough on Ukraine, the American pressure on India over Russian oil may ease. This could also open the door to an India-US trade deal.