Trump's Tariff Sparks Debate on Indo-US Ties and Indian Strategic Autonomy

US President Donald Trump's recent announcement of imposing a 25% tariff on India has ignited discussions about the resilience of India's strategic autonomy and its implications on Indo-US relations. Congress MP Manish Tewari was quick to interpret the move as an acknowledgment of India's long-standing foreign policy principles, tracing back to Jawaharlal Nehru's era.

In his statement on social media platform X, Tewari highlighted the importance of India's policy of non-alignment and self-reliance, initiated by its first and third prime ministers. He underlined that these policies allowed India to engage with the world on its own terms, suggesting that Trump's tariff may not influence India's strategic path greatly.

The timing of Trump's threat to hike tariffs drew reactions from Congress leaders who argued the gesture contradicted the much-publicized camaraderie between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With additional penalties on India's purchase of Russian oil announced, commentators are urging Modi to assert India's position on the global stage in the wake of the new US trade measures.

(With inputs from agencies.)