External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar on Saturday, August 23, reiterated that India will defend its economic and strategic interests despite heightened trade tensions with the United States. Speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, he criticised Washington’s decision to impose punitive tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian goods, as a response to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The move, according to White House, is designed to pressure New Delhi to distance itself from Moscow and to play a role in ending the conflict in Ukraine.
Jaishankar pushes back at US tariffs
Jaishankar, however, pushed back against what he described as misplaced accusations. “It is funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business,” he remarked. “If you have a problem with India buying oil or refined products from Russia, don’t buy from us. Nobody forces you. Europe buys, America buys, so if you don’t like it, don’t buy it.”
India-US tariff negotiations continue
On trade talks with Washington, Jaishankar underlined that negotiations remain open but stressed that certain non-negotiable positions must be protected. “Negotiations are still going on in the sense that nobody said they are off. People do talk to each other. It’s not like there is a kutti (fallout) there,” he said.
He emphasised that India’s farmers and small producers would remain safeguarded in any trade agreement. “The red lines are primarily the interests of our farmers and, to some extent, our small producers. We as a government are committed to defending those interests. That is not something we can compromise on,” he said firmly.
“Trump’s foreign policy is major departure from tradition”
Jaishankar also offered candid reflections on US President Donald Trump’s distinctive style of foreign policy. “We’ve not had a US President who has conducted foreign policy as publicly as the current one,” he said. “That itself is a departure not limited to India. President Trump’s way of dealing with the world, even dealing with his own country, is a very major departure from the traditional, orthodox manner.”
He pointed out that the application of tariffs for non-trade issues was an unusual development in global diplomacy. “The use of tariffs in this manner is novel. The fact that much of it is said in public, often with the first pronouncement made publicly, is also very unusual. This is the situation the entire world is facing.”
India–Russia ties
Turning to India’s ties with Russia, Jaishankar confirmed that preparations were underway for the annual bilateral summit with President Vladimir Putin later this year. He described the regular high-level exchanges as vital to the continuity of the partnership.
“Our trade has grown a bit and we would like to grow it further. There has been some mobility of people and we would like to see that increase. We want more market access in Russia,” he noted, adding that the relationship continues to develop in multiple areas despite global headwinds.
Operation Sindoor
The foreign minister also addressed questions surrounding Operation Sindoor, India’s military operation in Pakistan. He acknowledged that multiple countries, including the US, had been in touch during the process. “Phone calls were made by the US, phone calls were made by other countries as well. This is not a secret. At least in my case, every American phone call I had is there on my ‘X’ account,” he said.
He pushed back against external claims that the outcomes of the operation were not independently negotiated by India. “It is quite different to assert a mediation or to suggest that an outcome negotiated between India and Pakistan was not actually negotiated between India and Pakistan. It was,” he stressed.
This comes after Trump repeatedly claimed to have brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor.