Trump Now Playing 'Russian Roulette' With Tariff Talks: What Does This Mean For India, The World?
The Kremlin has indicated its willingness to negotiate but has warned that Russia will not respond positively to ultimatums. Interestingly, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has echoed the US President's sentiments, particularly as the US-NATO weapons purchasing scheme has just been established between Trump and Rutte. Trump has declared that the Patriot missile defence systems should arrive in Ukraine very soon, despite resistance from some high-profile figures in the MAGA movement who oppose US support for Ukraine.
Kyiv has reasons to celebrate as Washington resumes military assistance to Ukraine. On expected lines, the NATO chief has warned that Brazil, China, and India could be hit very hard by secondary sanctions if they continue to do business with Russia. Rutte has urged Russia's BRICS allies, India, Brazil, and China, to make that phone call to Putin to avoid the sanctions.
Countries that stand to lose are Russia's allies, and mostly the partner nations of BRICS. India and China have become the top two destinations for Russian oil, with India alone importing about 1.6 to 1.7 million barrels per day, which accounts for around 35 per cent of India's daily oil needs. Though not a major buyer of Russian oil and energy, South Africa does import some goods from Russia, including cereals, mineral fuels, inorganic chemicals, and salt.
Brazil, a major agricultural economy, is one of the largest buyers of Russian fertilisers, a key input for its production of soybeans, sugar, and coffee. In West Asia, the United Arab Emirates, a significant BRICS member, functions as a financial conduit for Russian energy transactions. Dubai may not be a primary consumer of Russian oil, but it has become a financial sanctuary for Russian capital and oligarch wealth. Another BRICS member, Vietnam, also maintains energy and defence ties with Moscow.
Interestingly, Turkey, a NATO member, remains heavily reliant on Russian fossil fuels, including both crude oil and natural gas. It should be noted that Trump has been targeting BRICS ever since the Rio summit concluded. Whether it was the BRICS' joint declaration condemning US airstrikes on Iran or Trump's rising tariffs, the US President has been warning BRICS nations against de-dollarisation too.
The result? Trump's tariff tirade continues, and the latest threat of sanctions is not just to bring Moscow to the negotiating table but also to challenge a grouping like BRICS that represents emerging economies and the Global South, which is a significant counterweight to the G7. The timing stands out even more after NATO's choreographed commitment to raise their annual defence budgets to 5% of national income within a decade, a tribute to a president prone to flattery.
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