Mint Quick Edit | Does India risk double tariff trouble?

In a meeting of US and EU officials, as reported by the Financial Times, Trump asked the European bloc to hit India and China with 100% tariffs for the duo’s purchases of Russian oil, adding that the US would “mirror" these moves.

Although India’s trade talks with the EU have been progressing well, Trump’s advice could spell trouble for us if Brussels buckles under its weight. As Nato’s internal dynamics have revealed lately, EU countries are too dependent on the US for their security to assert themselves boldly in global affairs beyond a point.

It is important, all the same, for the EU to draw a line on its economic interests, which would not be served by such arbitrarily punitive action.

Meanwhile, Trump’s softened tone towards India, at least in public, has raised hopes of India-US ties improving. Perhaps it’s for EU leaders to impress upon Trump how badly alienating India would work out for the West.

Russia’s game has been to split and weaken Nato, and the US seems at risk of playing into Moscow’s hands. New Delhi has had no role whatsoever in this.