Democrats on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee have criticized President Donald Trump for unfairly targeting India over its purchase of Russian oil while sparing China, a much larger buyer. In a sharp statement, lawmakers said Trump’s tariffs on Indian goods not only damage Americans but also sabotage the U.S.-India partnership at a critical time. They argued that while China continues to import massive amounts of Russian oil without consequence, Washington’s selective approach undermines both credibility and diplomacy. The criticism highlights deep divisions in U.S. policy as tensions rise over energy, sanctions, and global alliances.
TRUMP’S 50% TARIFFS ON INDIA DRIVEN BY ‘PERSONAL PIQUE’
A report by American investment bank Jefferies claims that the United States’ decision to impose 50% tariffs on India was less about trade and more about President Donald Trump’s personal frustration. According to the analysis, Trump’s move was a direct response to being denied the chance to mediate in the India-Pakistan conflict earlier this year. The report described the tariffs as “unprecedented” and a “consequence of personal pique,” suggesting that Washington’s punitive measures stemmed from Trump’s disappointment at not being allowed to intervene in the long-running dispute between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
RUSSIAN SEA DRONE SINKS UKRAINE’S LARGEST RECON SHIP
The Ukrainian Navy’s reconnaissance vessel Simferopol, its largest commissioned ship in over a decade, has been sunk in a naval drone strike, Russia’s Defence Ministry announced Thursday. The Laguna-class ship, designed for radio, radar, electronic, and optical reconnaissance, was struck in the Danube delta in Ukraine’s Odessa region. According to Russian state media, this marks the first successful use of a sea drone to destroy a Ukrainian Navy vessel. Ukrainian authorities confirmed the hit, reporting one crew member killed and several injured in the attack, which underscores Moscow’s increasing reliance on unmanned naval systems.
XI REACHES OUT TO INDIA WITH A ‘SECRET LETTER’
When U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his trade war with China earlier this year, Beijing quietly reached out to New Delhi, according to a Bloomberg report. The outreach reportedly came in the form of a private letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Indian President Droupadi Murmu, later conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The letter, citing concerns over potential U.S.-India agreements that could harm Beijing, named a provincial official to lead China’s engagement. By June, India began treating the approach seriously, as it faced Trump’s tariff threats and his claims of brokering an India-Pakistan ceasefire after the Pahalgam terror attack. Stung by tariffs, India and China agreed to accelerate talks on resolving boundary disputes and move beyond the 2020 border clash.
MODI: STRONG TIES WITH CHINA KEY TO PEACE, GLOBAL STABILITY
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Japan on Friday, emphasized that maintaining strong ties with China is “crucial” for regional peace, prosperity, and global economic stability. Modi is on a two-day visit to Japan to deepen strategic and economic cooperation with Tokyo, including factory visits—among them a facility producing the E10 Shinkansen bullet train prototype India hopes to acquire. He will also oversee MoUs on defense, trade, technology, and business. Following Japan, Modi will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which includes Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and several Central Asian nations.
