Fairy tales would always tell us that good people always will win. But life is never a fairy tale. So is diplomacy especially if one is dealing with Donald Trump.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticises US tariff hike on Indian exports citing unfair targeting. He urges Modi government to impose reciprocal duties and explore alternative trade markets.
European Union buys more oil and gas in one day from Russia than India buys in a whole month.
Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and a some other nations have accepted informal “deals” from Donald Trump -- whose diplomacy is essentially guided by personal whims and dominance.
India is not alone. In fact it is in an illustrious club. The 'good company' in today's terms as they put it -- Brazil, China and even Canada --- who are fighting back.
A perfect utopia may be an ideal never fully realised.
"I know I will have to pay a heavy price for it personally, and I am ready for it. India is ready for it." -- PM Narendra Modi said in less than 24 hours the US presidential order announced 50 per cent tariff.
Jonah Blank is an American author, journalist and foreign policy expert, specializing in the culture, history and affairs of the Indian subcontinent. He says in article to 'Indian Express' -
"Trump was never a friend to India. He was never a friend to anyone.
In his world-view, relationships are for suckers. But don’t worry, India: He just wasn’t into you. And that proves he never deserved you."
The Modi Govt and the rest of India will do well to understand the significance of these words.
New Delhi has been cheated and betrayed. And as Late Prime Minister Chandrashekhar used to say --- "it is never a crime to be deceived".
India that is Bharat must now look ahead and move on.
Of course Trump has been selective. It talks of his ill intent.
He has not imposed similar punitive measures on China or the European Union, both of which maintain far greater energy trade with Moscow. Moreover, Trump's US itself buys uranium hexafluoride, palladium and other chemicals from Russia for its industries.
Jonah Blank explains India's experience with Trump in simpler words:
"Any break-up can feel like a betrayal. In sorting through what went wrong, Indians should remember two pieces of advice often given to the lovelorn. First: It’s not you, it’s him. Second: He’s not capable of a relationship with anyone."
It's also true that initial reaction to this kind of episode is always disbelief or even denial.
In this case, the denial does not work. Trump has played a bully. India must take the bull by its horns and today's India and Prime Minister Modi are capable of doing so.
Now it's time for action. Time to explore other markets.
In it lies the strongest but the classic defence mechanism. This should be followed by hard bargaining.
Trump is infatuated with power and there has to be a better way to deal with him.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has indicated his plans to call PM Narendra Modi and other leaders of the BRICS bloc in response to the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.
After the end of World War 2, the USA emerged as the strongest economy and a super military power to boot. This prompted it to declare itself as champion of democracy, which resulted in a long list of military misadventures in Korea, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Afghanistan, among scores of others.
In recent times, its credibility as a superpower has taken a dive, and doubts have arisen about its leadership role in the world. Mr Trump has made no bones about his desire to check this decline with his promises of ‘making America great again’.
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