External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held a telephonic conversation with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine and its global impact.
During the talks, Jaishankar emphasized that India should not be unfairly targeted in the context of the Ukraine conflict.
“Had a telecon today with Finnish Foreign Minister. Our discussions centered around the Ukraine conflict and its ramifications. India should not be unfairly targeted in that context. We have always advocated dialogue and diplomacy,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
India Criticizes Trump’s Tariffs
Jaishankar’s remarks came just days after former US President Donald Trump’s 50% tariff on Indian goods took effect. Washington has imposed a 25% duty on New Delhi citing alleged unfair trade practices, along with an additional 25% over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
India has sharply criticized the move, describing the tariffs as “unjustified and unreasonable.”
Earlier, Jaishankar had argued that if Washington objects to India buying oil from Russia, then the US should refrain from purchasing from India. He pointed out that it was ironic for a pro-business American administration to accuse others of conducting business. He added that no one is compelled to buy from India: “Europe buys, America buys. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.
“It’s funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, don’t buy it. Nobody forces you to buy it. Europe buys, America buys, so you don’t like it, don’t buy it,” Jaishankar said.
Hidden Factors Behind Trump’s Sanctions
Although Trump stated that the tariffs were due to India’s purchase of Russian oil, analysts suggest there were additional reasons. A report by The New York Times indicated that personal factors may have influenced his decision.
The report highlighted that during a June 17 phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump discussed the India-Pakistan ceasefire, taking credit for preventing escalation. He also mentioned that Pakistan was considering nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize and hinted that Modi should endorse him as well.
Modi, however, reportedly rejected the suggestion, clarifying that the ceasefire was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan without US involvement. The report suggested that Trump’s disappointment over this may have played a role in the imposition of trade measures on India.