Fact-Checking US Tariffs: India's Trade with Russia and Strategic Autonomy
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: International Relations (Bilateral relations - India-US, India-Russia; G7, EU), Indian Economy (Energy Security, Defence Imports, International Trade), Current Events.
Mains: GS Paper 2 (Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests; Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests).
Key Highlights from the News
Main Event: US President Donald Trump announced a new 25% tariff on products from India. This is reportedly due to India's oil and arms trade with Russia.
Main Argument of the Article: Although America's justifications are factually correct, they are irrational and full of hypocrisy and double standards.
Reality of Oil Imports:
India began buying oil at a lower price by taking advantage of the price cap imposed by G7 countries on Russian oil after the Ukraine war.
After the war began, China and the European Union (EU) imported more Russian fossil fuels than India.
Even the US continues to import products like fertilizers from Russia.
Reality of Arms Imports:
Although Russia is still a major arms supplier to India, reliance on Russia has been in a steady decline since the 1990s. India buys more weapons from countries like France and the UK.
The US, which criticizes India on the Ukraine issue, is the largest arms supplier to Israel, which is attacking Gaza.
India's Stance: India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly criticized the hypocrisy of the US and the European Union. This is a test of India's strategic autonomy.
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