Former diplomat Vikas Swarup discusses U.S. President Donald Trump’s dissatisfaction with India, citing tariffs and geopolitical tensions following recent military conflicts with Pakistan.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of punitive tariffs on India stems from his frustration over New Delhi’s dismissal of his claimed role in facilitating a peace agreement with Pakistan, according to former diplomat Vikas Swarup. The ex-High Commissioner to Canada emphasized that while the U.S. maintains a tactical relationship with Pakistan, its ties with India remain strategic.
In an interview with the news agency ANI, Swarup praised India’s resilience against U.S. pressure during trade negotiations, asserting that Trump’s tariffs could ultimately lead to increased inflation in the United States.
Swarup explained that Trump’s discontent with India is multifaceted. He noted that Trump perceives India’s membership in BRICS as a challenge to U.S. interests, viewing the group as an anti-American coalition intent on establishing an alternative currency to the dollar. “He feels that India should not be a member of the BRICS,” Swarup stated.
Another point of contention is India’s refusal to acknowledge Trump’s contributions to the ceasefire negotiations following the military conflict in May. New Delhi has consistently maintained that it does not accept external mediation in such matters. The ceasefire was directly negotiated between the armed forces of India and Pakistan, initiated at the request of Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations.
Trump has repeatedly asserted that he played a crucial role in de-escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations, claiming credit for averting a potential nuclear conflict. “He is miffed that India has not acknowledged his role, whereas Pakistan has recognized his contributions and even nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize,” Swarup remarked.
In early May, India conducted Operation Sindoor in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Following this, India successfully repelled further Pakistani aggression.
Swarup highlighted that India has resisted U.S. demands for greater access to its agriculture and dairy sectors, viewing Trump’s tariffs as part of a broader strategy to pressure India into compliance. He noted that this tactic also serves as a signal to Russia, as Trump has expressed frustration over President Vladimir Putin’s reluctance to agree to a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
As Trump prepares for a meeting with Putin in Alaska, concerns linger among Kyiv and its allies that the two leaders may attempt to dictate terms for peace in the nearly four-year-long war.
Swarup characterized Trump as a dealmaker who has positioned himself as a peacemaker in various global conflicts, including those in Thailand, Cambodia, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He believes that the India-Pakistan situation is particularly significant due to the nuclear capabilities of both nations. “From that perspective, Trump feels that he deserves credit,” he said.
He also noted that Trump has expressed a desire to surpass Barack Obama, the only U.S. president to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. “He has made no secret of his longing for that Nobel Peace Prize,” Swarup added, suggesting that a successful ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine could be Trump’s ticket to such recognition.
Regarding the U.S.’s recent warming of relations with Pakistan, Swarup asserted that India’s foreign policy should not be blamed for this shift. He pointed out that Pakistan has successfully lobbied for greater access to U.S. decision-makers, which has influenced the current dynamics. “Pakistan, through some intermediaries, has gotten the ear of the U.S. President,” he said.
Swarup also mentioned Pakistan’s ambitions to become a hub for cryptocurrency, noting that a venture backed by Trump has signed a letter of intent with Pakistan’s crypto council. “I think Pakistan is now trying to position itself as the ‘Crypto King’ of South Asia,” he remarked.
Despite the current tensions, Swarup believes that India remains a vital partner for the U.S., and that the relationship is fundamentally strategic rather than transactional, unlike the U.S.-Pakistan relationship. “I think the relationship with Pakistan right now is very tactical and short-term, primarily motivated by financial gain,” he stated.
He cautioned against viewing the U.S.-Pakistan relationship as indicative of a permanent shift, describing it instead as a temporary phase. “I call it a storm, not a rupture. You just have to wait out the storms. All storms eventually pass,” he said.
Swarup criticized the U.S. for labeling India as a “Tariff King,” pointing out that the U.S. now holds that title with an average tariff of 18.4 percent compared to India’s 15.98 percent. He argued that the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration would ultimately burden American consumers and contribute to rising inflation in the U.S.
“If you cave in to a bully, then the bully will increase his demands,” he warned, asserting that India has made the right choice by maintaining its strategic autonomy. “Our strategic autonomy has been the bedrock of our foreign policy right from the 1950s,” he concluded.
In July, Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, which later escalated to a total of 50 percent due to India’s imports of Russian oil. This move came despite hopes for an interim trade deal that could have mitigated the impact of such tariffs.
Swarup also addressed the implications of India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, noting that Pakistan is increasingly anxious about its water supply. He suggested that Pakistan’s military leadership is attempting to provoke fears of nuclear conflict to attract international attention. “They are deliberately provoking nuclear blackmail just so that they can catch the attention of the world,” he said.
India’s recent actions against Pakistan, particularly following the Pahalgam attack, have led to heightened tensions, with Pakistan’s military chief making nuclear threats during his visit to the United States.
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