A tale of shifting shadows

Trump's tariff threats against BRICS nations reveal the transactional core of international relations, where strategic alliances are affected by economic calculations and the consistent need for diplomatic balance

- ANURAG PUNETHA

The friendship of kings is like the shadow on a sundial; it appears vast at certain hours, but it moves with the sun." This adage holds particularly true in the realm of international relations, where emotions find no footing. How swiftly that shadow can shrink! Just ask the millions of Indians who were recently basking in the warm glow of Trump's "I love India" declarations, only to find themselves standing in the unexpected shade of a 100 per cent tariff threat. The warmth of friendship was suddenly chilled by the cold calculations of commerce. The Indian diaspora's WhatsApp groups, which were buzzing with jubilant forwards about Trump's potential return just weeks ago, may now experience what we might call a "digital dharna" of disbelief.

Donald Trump's recent threat to impose 100 per cent tariffs on BRICS nations, including India, over de-dollarisation efforts, reveals the complex underpinnings of international relations. The India-US relationship has always been marketed as a strategic bromance, complete with stadium-filling rallies and warm embraces. But beneath the carefully choreographed photo-ops lies a complex dance of interests, where every step forward in defence cooperation might mean two steps back in trade negotiations. The BRICS nations are discovering that in Trump's diplomatic playbook, every handshake comes with a calculator, and every "I love your country" speech carries an asterisk pointing to terms and conditions in fine print.