In a striking development, US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods has sparked intense debate over the real reason behind the move. According to Michael Kugelman, a Washington DC-based South Asia analyst and Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Centre, the action stems less from economics and more from politics and perception.
“This is perhaps the worst crisis in the India-US relationship in the last two decades,” said Kugelman in an interview with ANI.
India’s Independent Stand May Have Upset Trump
Kugelman believes Trump took India’s refusal to acknowledge his role in the Operation Sindoor ceasefire as a personal affront. Unlike China, which refrained from directly confronting Trump’s narrative, India openly denied any external mediation in the ceasefire process.
“China hasn’t had its leader tell Trump what’s right and wrong over a long phone call,” said Kugelman.
“India did, and that may be why Trump’s reaction was harsher,” he added, calling the move a clear double standard.
Also Read: PM Modi Responds Strongly to US Tariff Hike: “Won’t Compromise on Farmers’ Interests”
Modi’s Parliament Statement Sealed the Matter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear during a special discussion in Parliament that India acted independently.
“We had said from day one that our action was non-escalatory. No leader in the world asked us to stop Operation Sindoor,” said Modi.
This direct stance appeared to reject any role played by Trump or any other external power in de-escalating the conflict.
Former Foreign Secretary Questions Modi’s Silence
Reacting to Kugelman’s statement, former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal questioned why Modi didn’t publicly reject Trump’s claims.
On social media, he wrote:
“Why play the charade of giving false credit for a ceasefire based on trade threats? Trump calls India a tariff king, threatens more tariffs, and talks of mediating Kashmir, yet Modi stays silent?”
Sibal’s remarks underline the tension between India’s sovereign interests and the optics of foreign relations, especially with a volatile US administration.
Tariff Not a Surprise, Says Expert
Kugelman pointed out that Trump’s tariff announcement wasn’t entirely unexpected.
“The President has always been committed to tariffs. This move, while damaging, aligns with his earlier threats,” he said.
Despite concerns over its impact on the US-India relationship, Kugelman noted that the strategic ties between the two nations remain strong and multifaceted.
Trump Hints at Similar Action Against China
When asked if a similar tariff hike could be imposed on China, Trump responded vaguely:
“Could happen. Depends on how we do. Could happen.”
This non-committal stance stands in contrast to his swift action against India, further reinforcing the perception of selective enforcement and geopolitical messaging.
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