U.S. Emissaries In Delhi To Resolve Tariff Tug-Of-War?

PM Narendra Modi’s terse responses to President Donald Trump’s incessant tariffs tantrums (complaints former wasn’t dialling him up) now witnesses secret backroom parleys by the latter to pre-empt his own tariff deadline. Scheduled U.S. delegation visit come August 25 notwithstanding, American officials are already parked at New Delhi trying to salvage a negotiated outcome to ink an official trade agreement according to sources. Trump’s ‘Washington sanctions’ met deadpan reactions this side of the global south and the ‘been there done that’ attitude borne out of India’s legacy of past precedents. Then PM, Indira Gandhi steered India through global sanctions imposed at U.S. behest over our nuclear proliferation stance notwithstanding the world boycotting India. BJP PM, Atal Behari Vajpayee withstood American pressures to join global nuclear club with Pokhran aplomb. India’s requisition for U.S. cryogenic engines was similarly stalled so the country developed indigenous space launch capabilities providing more tech savvy, cheaper space launch expertise today. Trade tariffs @ 25% and identical penal sanctions won’t budge Modi to bend India like Beckham. Modi’s silent stance ensures sudden choreographed escalations over racial tensions in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Australia, UK don’t precipitate. Silent Modi has ramped up Indian responses with Russian President Vladimir Putin confirming to visit India. Russian intelligence cited security concerns to reschedule intended visit as an honoured guest of India in August itself. Modi will meet China President Xi Jinping next even as India’s second naval base INS Jatayu set up on Minicoy, the largest among Lakshadweep’s many islands, afforded it needed naval heft in the Indian Ocean region.