Trump's tariffs may erode trust but won't hit defence ties: Ex-senior Army officer
However, he cautioned that unilateral economic measures by the US can lead to erosion of trust. 'Tariffs may not stop the deals, but they do create a credibility gap. India will factor this in when considering long-term defence partnerships,' he remarked.On balancing ties with other global powers, the retired general stressed that India's decades-old relationship with Russia remains unaffected by any pressure or policy change from Washington.'We have strong defence ties with Russia, France, Israel and these will continue. In fact, in the long run, India may prefer reliable partners and pursue self-reliance in defence manufacturing rather than over-dependence on the US,' he observed.Affirming India's sovereign decision-making, Majoral General Padhi said, 'India's national interest comes first. We are strong enough to decide our own course. The current glitch caused by the tariff is temporary and can be overcome.'When asked about US-Pakistan dynamics, the veteran was blunt in his assessment."Pakistan is a beggar nation. The US has used it for its own interests. But that equation is irrelevant to India. We've already demonstrated our military superiority to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor," he said.Major General Padhi believes that while the Trump tariff may introduce temporary friction, the fundamentals of India-US defence cooperation remain robust and India will continue to make choices that serve its long-term strategic goals.- Ends
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3 minutes ago
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