The most arrogant administration in history accuses India of arrogance over Russian oil imports.
“Modi’s War”
The BBC reports Trump adviser calls Ukraine conflict ‘Modi’s war’ as US tariffs on India rise
A White House official has described Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine as Indian Prime Minister Narendra “Modi’s war”, stepping up pressure on Delhi to stop buying oil from Moscow.
US Trade Adviser Peter Navarro’s comments came hours after US tariffs of 50% on Indian goods kicked in on Wednesday.
The tariffs, among the highest in the world, include a 25% penalty for purchase of weapons and oil from Russia which, the US claims, is a key source of funds for its war in Ukraine.
Russia, which supplied less than 2% of India’s crude before it invaded Ukraine in February 2022, now accounts for 35-40% of Delhi’s oil imports, making it the largest source.
But India has pointed out that the US has not imposed similar additional tariffs on China, which is the largest importer of Russian oil, or the European Union, which still conducts a huge amount of trade with Russia.
Navarro’s iteration of the US position came in an interview with Bloomberg TV.
“Everybody in America loses because of what India is doing. The consumers and businesses and everything lose, and workers lose because India’s high tariffs cost us jobs, factories and income and higher wages. And then the taxpayers lose because we got to fund Modi’s war,” he was quoted saying.
When asked if he actually meant “Putin’s war” instead, Mr Navarro said: “I mean Modi’s war, because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi.”
Navarro then went on to add: “What’s troubling to me is that the Indians are so arrogant about this. They say, ‘Oh, we don’t have higher tariffs. Oh, it’s our sovereignty. We can buy oil from anyone we want.’ India, you’re the biggest democracy in the world, okay, act like one.”
Bullies Pick on the Weak
“It’s real easy, that India can get 25% off tomorrow if it stops buying Russian oil and helping to feed (Russia’s) war machine,” Navarro told Bloomberg Television.
What’s troubling to me is assh*les telling other nations who they can or cannot conduct business with, then accuse them of arrogance when they don’t obey arrogant commands.
China and the EU keep buying Russian oil, especially the former.
And Trump promised on numerous occasions that Russia would have “severe consequences” if it did not agree to a deal.
Instead, this is now “Modi’s war” in the administration’s biggest shift of irresponsible denial and lies regarding Russia.
An American Own-Goal
I wrote the above before reading similar comments from Eurointelligence on An American Own-Goal
The guiding principle of the Trump administration’s foreign policy now, after its aborted trade war with China, seems to come straight from Thucydides. During the ancient Athenian siege of Melos, he famously recorded the Athenians’ justification for the siege: the strong take what they can, and the weak suffer what they must. Hence him raising tariffs on India to 50% for buying Russian oil, whilst the same tariffs on China are conspicuously absent.
However, there is little reason to think that India will stop buying Russian oil, at least immediately. The reason why the country went from buying next to no Russian crude to being its second-largest customer almost overnight after the war in Ukraine began is simple: the price. What sometimes happens when sanctions, by any name, come out against Russia’s oil industry is that it drives the price of Russian crude lower relative to crude from other countries. This makes it more attractive to the buyers, paradoxically.
The bigger ramifications might be geopolitical, because the world isn’t evenly divided into strong and weak countries. Many can pick and choose who their allies and partners are, and India has other options. For a long time, US policy towards India has revolved around coopting it as an ally against China.
Now Trump’s own efforts threaten to undo this in one fell swoop. When Trump first threatened his tariffs back in March, the Chinese government was already making overtures towards India. Now, it wouldn’t be surprising if India sought to diversify its own trading relationships. This might prove to be the most self-defeating foreign policy move the US has made. It’s plausible that it won’t achieve its intended goal, to stop India from buying Russian oil, and it could push India towards China instead.
Attacks on the Weak
Notice how Trump attacks the weak. After repeatedly threatening Russia with severe consequences, Trump did nothing.
Severe Consequences? When?
We have severe consequences, on India. What about the oil and natural gas China buys from Russia?
Please recall my April 21 post China Halts US Liquid Natural Gas Imports, Turns to Russia Instead
What did Trump do besides nothing?
On April 12, I commented Trump Backs Down More on Tariffs Exempts Smartphones, Electronics from China
On May 12, I noted US and China Slash Tariffs for 90 Days with More Planned Talks
China responded to Trump’s tariffs by halting rare earth exports. That’s why Trump backed down.
Chalk up a Two-TACO Trump Day on His Call to Xi Over Rare Earth Elements
Meanwhile, in Canada
Please note Canada Adds 70 Percent More Port Capacity to China to Escape Trump’s Tariffs
Credit Trump for pushing Canada closer to China.
And today, please note that Trump is pushing India closer to Russia and China.
Best of all, US consumers and businesses have to pay more for goods.
Is Trump great or what?
This post originated on MishTalk.Com
Thanks for Tuning In!
Mish
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