The BRICS TimesIndia-US relations face turbulence over Washington’s 50% tariff on Indian exports and additional duties linked to Russian oil imports.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, the United States Embassy in New Delhi on Monday described the India-US partnership as “a defining relationship of the 21st century.”
In a post on X, the Embassy shared remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, originally made in January, highlighting the “enduring friendship” between Indians and Americans as the foundation of bilateral cooperation and economic progress. “The partnership between the United States and India continues to reach new heights,” the Embassy added, emphasizing areas such as innovation, entrepreneurship, defence, and bilateral ties under the campaign hashtag #USIndiaFWDforOurPeople.
The message came just hours after images of Modi with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were released. During the meeting, Modi welcomed peace efforts on Ukraine and confirmed that Putin would visit India in December.
The US statement echoed ongoing discussions between New Delhi and Washington on strengthening defence ties. Recently, the two countries explored expanding cooperation under the India-US 2+2 Dialogue, with talks on a new 10-year framework for the Major Defence Partnership, advancing defence industry and technology links, regional coordination, and intelligence sharing.
Tariff tensions with Washington
Despite such assurances, relations have been strained in recent weeks. Washington imposed a steep 50% tariff on Indian goods, along with a 25% penalty on imports tied to Russian oil. These measures stalled the bilateral trade agreement that was expected later this year. According to The New York Times, US President Donald Trump even cancelled his planned trip to India for the Quad Leaders Summit and the signing of the trade deal.
The tariff hike has sparked sharp criticism. Peter Navarro, Trump’s trade adviser, controversially blamed India for prolonging the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying, “the road to peace runs, at least partly, right through New Delhi,” and dubbing it “Modi’s war.”
Vice President J D Vance defended the measures, describing them as “aggressive economic leverage” to push Moscow to halt its attacks on Ukraine. India, however, has rejected these claims. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called the tariffs “unjustified and unfair,” stressing they were wrongly being framed as an oil-related issue.
Akshay Didwaniya
