(Image source from: x.com/narendramodi)
On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a quiet message to US President Donald Trump during discussions about a trade agreement, stating that his administration will protect small business owners, farmers, and those who raise livestock. Although he didn’t mention the US specifically, which has placed a 50% tax on goods from India, the Prime Minister highlighted the self-serving economic politics happening worldwide. “You are all seeing the type of politics fueled by economic self-interest taking place today. From Ahmedabad, I want to say to my small business owners, my shopkeepers, my farmers, and livestock owners. Your well-being is very important to me. My government will ensure that small business owners, farmers, and cattle rearers are not harmed. Regardless of the pressures we face, we will continue to build our strength to endure,” PM Modi remarked. Trump has placed a 50% tax on India and an extra unknown charge on Russian oil transactions. India called Trump’s decision about tariffs “unfair, unreasonable, and unjustified.”
In a separate event on August 7, the Prime Minister declared he is willing to face “a significant cost,” emphasizing that India will always prioritize the welfare of farmers, fishermen, and dairy producers. “The welfare of our farmers is very important to us. India will never sacrifice the needs of farmers, fishermen, and dairy workers. I understand that I may have to face a significant cost to uphold this, but I am prepared for it. Today, India stands ready for its farmers, fishermen, and dairy producers,” he stated. While the US continues to criticize India regarding its relations with Russia, two senior Indian officials—National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar—recently traveled to Moscow to strengthen the partnership. PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin have spoken over the phone twice in a month.
During a news conference in Moscow, Jaishankar mentioned that the United States requested India to purchase oil from Russia to help stabilize the global energy market. He pointed out that the European Union is the largest buyer of Russian liquefied natural gas. “We are not the nation that has seen the largest increase in trade with Russia since 2022; I believe there are other countries to the South. We are a nation where Americans have stated for the past few years that we should take all necessary steps to stabilize the international energy market, including buying oil from Russia. By the way, we also purchase oil from the US, and the amount has grown," he stated. Jaishankar also mentioned that talks are continuing between Washington and New Delhi. “Discussions (related to India-US trade talks) are still happening. However, the key point is we have certain limits. Discussions are still ongoing in the sense that nobody has declared them over. People are communicating. It’s not like there’s a breakdown… Regarding our concerns, the main limits are the interests of our farmers and, to some degree, our small producers,” he said at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025.
While discussing Trump’s policies, Jaishankar recently remarked, “We haven’t had a US President who has handled foreign relations as openly as the current one. This itself is a change that isn’t just about India… President Trump’s approach to the world, including how he interacts with his own country, is a significant shift from the usual traditional way of doing things.”
