Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned the tables on American economic coercion. He transformed pressure into power. When Donald Trump unleashed punitive 50% tariffs designed to force India into abandoning its strategic partnerships, Modi struck back. He delivered a defiant Red Fort address that rejected Trump’s bullying.

Hosting Wang Yi on August 18 was just the cherry on the cake, showcasing India’s diplomatic alternatives in the face of American bullying. The response sends an unequivocal message: India will not compromise its sovereignty under any external pressure, and will not sacrifice its strategic autonomy for American approval.

In an increasingly multipolar world, Modi showcased India’s position as a truly sovereign power, one that will not break with threats of economic coercion.

Trump’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian goods, among the highest levied on any nation, was never merely about trade deficits or Russian oil purchases. The tariff structure, combining a 25% baseline duty with an additional 25% penalty, deliberately targeted $87 billion worth of Indian exports to the United States. This move was calculated economic warfare designed to extract maximum political concessions from New Delhi.

The coercive nature of these tariffs becomes evident when examining their selective application. While China remains the largest purchaser of Russian oil globally, Trump has extended deadlines for Chinese tariffs by 90 days, hoping for a favourable deal with Xi Jinping. India, conversely, faced immediate punishment despite importing significantly less Russian energy than China. This disparity reveals the true strategic intent: to pressure a democratic ally into abandoning its sovereign decision-making whilst appeasing a strategic rival.

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton characterised this approach as producing the “worst outcome" for America, noting the irony that tariffs intended to hurt Russia could instead push India closer to both Russia and China. The selective targeting of India while sparing China exposes the fundamental strategic miscalculation underlying Trump’s coercive diplomacy.

On August 15, Modi delivered one of his longest-ever Independence Day speeches, running for 103 minutes. He........

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