India's EAM Jaishankar Pushes Back as Trump Threatens Tariffs, Says India Won’t Be Bullied by Global Powers

At a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has been repeatedly threatening steep tariffs on India over its Russian oil trade, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar pushed back subtly but firmly on Monday, calling for a “fair and representative global order”--not one dominated by a few. 

His remarks, delivered at the BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival in New Delhi, served as a diplomatic counterpoint to the rising chorus of Western pressure on India's sovereign trade choices. 

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“We live in complicated and uncertain times,” Jaishankar said. “Our collective desire is to see a fair and representative global order, not one dominated by a few.”

Though he refrained from naming countries, the subtext was clear: India is not in the mood to take moral lectures from nations with selective outrage and shifting standards, especially on trade and energy.

Jaishankar’s statement comes just 24 hours after Trump accused India of profiting off the Ukraine war and threatened to “substantially raise tariffs” on Indian goods. 

Trump's aide, Stephen Miller, doubled down, accusing India of cheating on trade and immigration, and “funding the Russian war machine” by purchasing oil. India has consistently maintained that its oil imports are driven by price and national interest, not politics.

While Jaishankar didn't directly reference Trump or the tariff threat, his emphasis on multipolarity, identity, and cultural confidence sent a strong signal about India’s foreign policy doctrine: strategic autonomy, not strategic subordination. 

“Traditions define identity,” Jaishankar said. “We must be assured about what we are if we want to be confident about shaping the future.”

He also highlighted how music and culture bridge nations and embody national strength. The event, SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody, brought together BIMSTEC countries in a rare display of regional unity--underscoring India’s broader vision of partnerships beyond geopolitical hegemony.

The comments come at a time when Washington’s tone is hardening, with Trump threatening a 25% tariff from August 1 unless India changes its course. 

The Indian government, however, appears determined to project composure, continuity, and cultural rootedness—balancing East and West on its own terms.