Washington: US President Donald Trump and his team are now facing allegations of attempting to weaken the friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin by imposing economic pressure on India. To this end, a bill was introduced in the US Parliament that proposed imposing tariffs of up to 500% on countries buying oil from Russia, especially India. However, this plan collapsed after heavy criticism.
Trump’s Anti-India Plan
The Trump administration had cited the Ukraine war and stated that Russia’s oil revenues must be stopped. However, according to experts, this move was actually an attempt to isolate India. Putting additional economic pressure on India, America’s most trusted strategic partner, was considered inappropriate. India is currently facing an additional 25% duty, bringing the total US tariffs to 50%.
Chabahar Port Exemption Ended
The US also revoked the special exemption granted to India in the Chabahar Port project involving Iran. The Trump administration claims this will curb the income of Iran’s IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps). However, critics say this decision will adversely impact India-Afghanistan-Iran cooperation and regional balance.
New burden on H1B visa holders
The Trump administration dealt a blow to Indian IT professionals by imposing an additional fee of $100,000 on new H1B applicants. This has made it difficult for thousands of Indian students and professionals to travel to the US. However, existing visa holders have been exempted from this fee. Diplomatic experts believe that these Trump policies were aimed directly at pressuring India to distance the Modi government from Russia. However, India made it clear that it would make independent decisions regarding its energy and strategic partnerships. This is why Trump’s “500% tariff plan” has collapsed, and his plot is considered a failure.
