India US relations: Differences are once again emerging between India and America regarding the purchase of crude oil from Russia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has advocated ending the special exemptions and arrangements given by India on Russian oil imports as soon as possible. During the hearing of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he said that the Trump administration wants to soon end all those special arrangements and sanctions exemptions due to which countries like India are able to import oil from Russia.

This statement of Rubio has come at a time when the stance of America and Western countries regarding India’s energy policy has been changing several times during the Russia-Ukraine war. Due to this, an old dispute in India-US relations has once again raised its head.

The attitude of western countries kept changing after the Russia-Ukraine war.

After Russia launched an attack on Ukraine in February 2022, the US and its allies imposed several economic sanctions on Russia. During this period, on the one hand, western countries criticized India’s purchase of Russian oil at concessional rates, while on the other hand, they also accepted it on many occasions.

Experts believed that the presence of Russian oil in the global market through India proved helpful in controlling international energy prices. Due to this, on one hand the supply of oil remained intact, on the other hand, Russia had to sell oil at a price lower than the market price, which also affected its income.

Now again America is in strict mood

In recent times, America has once again started adopting a tough stance regarding Russian oil. Washington has been continuously claiming that it has received assurance from India to avoid additional purchases of Russian oil. However, India’s stand has been clear that all decisions related to energy procurement are taken keeping in mind national interest and energy security. New Delhi says that its primary responsibility is to meet the growing energy needs of the country.

Questions are being raised on double standards in India

Indian policy experts and analysts are raising questions regarding the continuous change in American stance. He says that when there was a fear of a rise in global oil prices, India’s purchase of Russian oil was said to be a step to stabilize the global market. But now the same purchase has become a matter of diplomatic trouble for America.

Last week, Marco Rubio himself had said that the purpose of the sanctions imposed on Russia is not to target India. This statement was seen as an attempt by the US to strike a balance between pressure on Russia and strategic partnership with India.

Should America have influence on India’s energy policy?

This entire controversy has raised a big question whether America should have the right to decide from where India buys oil for its energy needs. The US argues that Russian oil income finances Russia’s military activities. Therefore, international pressure on energy purchases is necessary to reduce Russia’s income. US officials believe that allies should not weaken the sanctions, which are aimed at limiting Russia’s combat capability.

India reiterated the principle of strategic autonomy

India says that it is a sovereign nation with a population of more than 140 crores, whose energy needs are huge. In such a situation, providing affordable and reliable energy is part of its economic and national priorities. The Indian leadership has been continuously emphasizing the policy of “strategic autonomy”. India has a clear view that no foreign power should have the right to decide how and where the country should meet its energy needs.

China’s issue also became a topic of discussion

The issue of China is also being raised again and again in this debate. Many analysts in India say that China still remains the largest buyer of Russian energy, but America appears to be relatively more cautious against it.

Experts believe that due to China’s global economic power and its hold on many important resources, America avoids taking drastic steps against it. In such a situation, a perception is being formed in India that rules and pressure are not applied equally on all countries, but are changed according to strategic and economic interests.

The question of strategic autonomy goes beyond oil

For India, this matter is no longer limited to oil imports only. It is being seen as a test of its ability to maintain an independent foreign and economic policy as a rising global power. Experts believe that India wants to maintain its strategic autonomy while maintaining strong relations with America. Therefore, as America increases pressure on Russian oil, New Delhi will repeat the same message that has been given since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war.

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Clear message from New Delhi

India’s public stance is clear that the country’s energy policy will be decided in New Delhi, not in Washington. India will continue to take decisions related to its oil imports keeping in mind energy security, national interest and economic needs. Amidst increasing pressure from America on purchasing oil from Russia, India has once again indicated that it is not in favor of compromising its strategic autonomy and energy security.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China this week amid 50% import duty imposed by the US. He will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference organized by President Xi Jinping there. This will be PM Modi’s first visit to China after 2018. Five years ago, after the violent clashes on the Himalayan border, the relationship between the two countries was frozen, but now the situation seems to be changing.

After the border dispute, now the relationship coming again
In 2020, there was a violent clash between the soldiers of the two countries in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh, in which 20 soldiers from India and 4 soldiers of China were killed. Now the situation is becoming such that Modi and Xi Jinping can be seen shaking hands. This meeting is being seen towards giving priority to economic stability.

Importance of SCO Summit
Leaders of Russia, Pakistan, Iran and Central Asian countries will also attend the SCO conference. Beijing claims that this will be the largest summit ever. India’s presence indicates that relationships are changing between Asian powers.

Jerk to America
Analysts believe that the warmth of India-China relations can weaken the US effort in which it had added India to balance against China. According to expert Un Sun, it has started with the decisions of Trump, the softening of relationships.

India’s strategy- trying to balance
Analyst Manoj Kevalramani says that America’s pressure gave India a hurry to improve relations with China, although this is not the only reason. India wants to maintain relations with both China and America, under its policy of strategic autonomy.

Border dispute and trust challenge
Tens of tens of soldiers are still deployed on the border of both countries. Recently, India-China agreed to 10 points on the border issue, including the matter of maintaining peace. But expert Tanvi Madan says that trust in both countries is still weak.

Economic compulsion and cooperation
India and China’s mutual trade reached $ 118 billion last year. India gets not only finished goods, but also raw materials and parts from China, on which its industry depends. For this reason, it is also a compulsion to increase economic cooperation between the two countries.

Way of future
Experts believe that this change is not like a complete reset. India is not distance from America, but China is the largest neighbor for it, which is necessary to live with. According to the Farwa Amer of the Asia Society, India-China relations will probably be stable in the future, but the competition will not end.

After India, now America has also suffered a big setback from Europe. The expectations of the Donald Trump administration were shocked when Spain and Switzerland flatly refused to buy the US 5th generation fighter aircraft F-35. Both countries have given a new direction to their defense strategy, expressing confidence in European options instead.

Spain and Switzerland’s recent decisions have made Europe’s attitude towards distance from the American F-35 fighter aircraft. This step is not only due to controversy on prices, but also concerns about America’s “Sustainment Monopoli”, which will control America on all future upgrades, software and operational data. This situation arises strategic risk in changing political situation.

Spain’s shocking decision
Spain suddenly abolished the plan to buy their F-35. Earlier it was believed that Madrid would buy F-35B for his Navy’s Juan Carlos I aircraft career, but now he has canceled the scheme. Instead, Spain has decided to buy 25 new Eurofighters typhoon and emphasize Future Combat Air System (FCAS).

This decision will weaken the naval strength of Spain at the moment because now it will not have a real fifth generation aircraft for the next ten years. But the domestic industry will benefit from this. Spain will strengthen its supply chain, employment and technical capacity by investing billions of euros in European programs and all this will be in European ownership.

Increasing dissatisfaction in Switzerland
Switzerland approved the purchase of 36 F-35A aircraft by holding a referendum in 2022, priced at around 6 billion Swiss Francs. But by the end of 2023, the situation started changing. The US told Swiss authorities in secret briefing that the contract is not completely fixed and prices may increase by 650 million or more if inflation and material cost increases. After this, Washington also put new tariffs on Swiss exports. This reduced the trust in the deal and now many leaders in the burn are demanding to reduce the deal or cancel the completely.

Europe’s challenge and chance
Spain has an industrial capacity and political will to pursue FCAS. At the same time, Switzerland has neither such an industry nor defense ambition, so the decision in front of him is difficult – cheap option or safe supply chain. But the concern of the two countries is the same – despite the technical superiority of F -35, this aircraft takes a huge risk in terms of cost, security and control.

F-35 vs Eurofighter & FCAS
F-35 has long been alleged to have made a kind of “monopoli” by Lockheed Martin. Software upgrades and changes are only with American permission and lifestyle costs are constantly increasing.

Conversely, the Eurofighter Typhoon is still a competent and upgradable multi-roll aircraft, which is in European ownership. At the same time, FCAS is currently in the research and development phase, but it will have sixth generation features-such as stealth, human-human teaming, advanced electronic warfare and cloud-based command system. It will be completely under European control.

Strategic message
Buying F -35 means to be completely tied to the American system – where the US will control the future upgrade and operational data. This can be acceptable until the relations between America and Europe are strong. But if incidents like political differences or tariffs increase, then it can become a big threat to Europe.

Spain’s decision is not just based on price or industrial interest. This is a kind of “future insurance policy” – it is better to pay the price right now to lose strategic freedom in future. The situation is different for Switzerland, but he is now understanding that his so-called fixed-pris contract was not as sure as it was believed.

India also shocked America
India is also taking a big step towards becoming self -sufficient in engine manufacturing for indigenous fighter jets. India, in collaboration with the French company Safran, will develop a powerful engine of 120 Kn, which will give strength to the fifth generation Sttleth fighter jets. This deal will further strengthen the strategic partnership of India-France, while the US was shocked as the Trump administration was hoping that India would buy GE 414 engines.

US President Donald Trump is raging on countries buying oil from Russia. Trump first imposed a total of 50 percent recipes on India and then indicated to impose a penalty to China. With this, China has responded to Trump as India. China’s Foreign Ministry has said that China will continue to take appropriate steps for energy security on the basis of national interests. China has described its trade and energy cooperation with other countries including Russia as valid and legal.

Chinese Foreign Ministry’s clear stand

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in media briefing on Friday, ‘China’s situation is clear and stable. China’s general economic, trade and energy cooperation with countries around the world including Russia are valid and legal. China will continue to take appropriate steps for energy security based on national interests.

China indicated tariffs and reactions of China

Significantly, recently Trump had indicated that if China continues to buy Russian oil, then “secondary tariffs” can be imposed on it. During a conversation with the media at the White House, he said, ‘This may happen. I can’t say now, but we did this with India. Probably we will do the same with some other countries. One of them can be China.

China’s reaction on extra tariffs on India

When asked about Trump’s decision to impose an additional 25 percent tariff on Russian oil imports on India, Guo said, “China has always opposed the abuse of tariffs and its policy is clear on it.” Trump had announced an additional 25 percent tariff on India on Wednesday, which is in addition to the earlier 25 percent fee implemented on July 20. He cited the reason for this the continuous import of Russian crude oil by India.

India’s strong response has come to light on the US decision. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs described it as “unfair, unjust and incompatible” and said that India’s energy needs and strategic autonomy should be respected.

PM Modi said- protect the interests of farmers paramount

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held MS held in Delhi on Thursday. In the Swaminathan Shatabdi International Conference, the protecting the interests of farmers, cattlemen and fishermen was described as the top priority of the government. He said, ‘The interest of farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise the interests of farmers, cattle rearers and fishermen. I know that I may have to pay its personally larger value, but I am ready for it. India is ready for the farmers of the country.