NEW DELHI: This past week has seen a tectonic shift in Indo-US relations. Donald Trump first slapped a 25% tariff on Indian exports to the US and then topped it up with another 25% as a penalty for India buying Russian crude oil. While the first was shocking to a lot of people, the second is blatantly unfair. China buys more Russian crude than India, but Trump has not slapped any such penalty on China. As of now, tariffs on Indian exports to the US are 20 percentage points higher than on China’s.

Where does this leave India and Indo-US relations? Are there larger lessons to be learnt? Answering this question requires an ideological clarity over and above merchandise trade. Here are three things which should matter.

Enemy’s enemy in cultural or superstructural wars is not your friend

Shrill attacks on the American and the larger western woke ecosystem, have been an integral part of Trump’s political rhetoric. Because this ecosystem has also been extremely critical of the BJP, Modi and the larger Hindutva framework, many on the Hindu right celebrated Trump’s attacks on it. Many right wing influencers waxed eloquent on how Trump was good for India. What they did not understand then was that this did not necessarily mean a support from Trump for India’s larger interests. These cheerleaders are having to eat crow today.

Having said this, how best to position Indian politics vis-à-vis rising right-wing........

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