New Delhi: As the United States under Donald Trump intensifies trade pressure on countries like India, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday called for a just and multipolar global order, rejecting the idea of a world dominated by a handful of powerful nations.
Speaking at the BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival in the national capital, Jaishankar said, “We live in complicated and uncertain times. Our collective desire is to see a fair and representative global order — not one dominated by a few. That quest is often articulated as political or economic rebalancing.”
His remarks come at a critical time, as Trump has threatened to hike tariffs on Indian goods in retaliation for India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The former US President accused New Delhi of profiting from discounted Russian crude and undermining efforts to isolate Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
On Monday, Trump announced plans to “substantially raise the tariff paid by India to the US,” citing India’s oil trade with Russia. He claimed that India was “buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling it on the open market for big profits.” The move follows his broader strategy of using tariffs as leverage to force countries into US-friendly trade agreements.
Washington’s decision comes amid a wider trend of unilateral tariff impositions targeting various nations that have declined to align fully with US foreign policy — particularly regarding the Ukraine conflict and trade ties with Moscow.
India responded sharply to Trump’s announcement, calling the proposed tariff hike “unreasonable and unjustified.” In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) accused the US and its allies of hypocrisy, highlighting that both the United States and European Union continue to engage in substantial trade with Russia despite their vocal opposition to the Ukraine war.
India’s oil imports from Russia, the MEA clarified, are “a necessity compelled by global market conditions” and not a political endorsement of the Kremlin. The ministry also noted that these purchases help ensure domestic energy stability amid volatile global prices.
The MEA added, “India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
India also drew attention to ongoing Western trade with Russia. According to official data cited by the MEA:
• The European Union conducted goods trade worth €67.5 billion and services trade worth €17.2 billion with Russia in 2023 and 2024.
• The US, while publicly opposing Russian energy exports, continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear sector from Moscow.
This discrepancy, India argued, undermines Western moral authority in demanding that developing nations halt essential trade with Russia while continuing their own.
Jaishankar’s speech served as a broader reflection of India’s foreign policy stance — one that seeks autonomy in strategic and economic decisions while calling for a rebalanced global system.
“For nations like ours, traditions are truly a great source of strength,” Jaishankar said, underlining that India’s identity and cultural confidence were vital in shaping an independent future.
His remarks are seen as a strong pushback against coercive global politics and a reaffirmation of India’s refusal to be bullied into aligning with any geopolitical bloc at the expense of national interest.
As global tensions rise over trade, energy, and security, India’s firm response signals a growing assertiveness in the face of Western pressure — with Jaishankar making it clear that the future belongs not to the dominant few, but to a balanced, multipolar world.
