Saudi deputy FM meets US official in Riyadh
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs Ali Al-Yousef received Dutch Ambassador to the Kingdom Hans Peter van der Woude in Riyadh on Wednesday.
During the meetings, all sides discussed various topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.
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Saudi Gazette
10 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Tariff showdown shatters once robust populist alliance between Trump and Modi
DELHI — The men shared bear hugs, showered praise on each other, and made appearances side by side at stadium rallies — a big optics boost for two populist leaders with many ideological similarities. Each called the other a good friend. In India, the bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump was seen as a relationship like no other. That is, until a series of events gummed up the works. From Trump's tariffs and India's purchase of oil from Russia to a US tilt towards Pakistan, friction between New Delhi and Washington has been hard to miss. And much of it has happened far from the corridors of power and, unsurprisingly, through Trump's posts on social media. It has left policy experts wondering whether the camaraderie the two leaders shared may be a thing of the past, even though Trump has stopped short of referring to Modi directly on social media. The dip in rapport, some say, puts a strategic bilateral relationship built over decades at risk. 'This is a testing time for the relationship,' said Ashok Malik, a former policy adviser in India's Foreign Ministry. The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The latest hiccup between India and the US emerged last week when Trump announced that he was slapping 25% tariffs on India as well as an unspecified penalty because of India's purchase of Russian oil. For New Delhi, such a move from its largest trading partner is expected to be felt across sectors, but it also led to a sense of unease in India — even more so when Trump, on social media, called India's economy 'dead'. Trump's recent statements reflect his frustration with the pace of trade talks with India, according to a White House official who was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity to describe internal administration thinking. The Republican president has not been pursuing any strategic realignment with Pakistan, according to the official, but is instead trying to play hardball in negotiations. Trump doubled down on the pressure Monday with a fresh post on Truth Social, in which he accused India of buying 'massive amounts' of oil from Russia and then 'selling it on the Open Market for big profits". 'They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the USA,' he said. The messaging appears to have stung Modi's administration, which has been hard-selling negotiations with Trump's team over a trade deal by balancing between India's protectionist system while also opening up the country's market to more American goods. 'Strenuous, uninterrupted and bipartisan efforts in both capitals over the past 25 years are being put at risk by not just the tariffs but by fast and loose statements and social media posts,' said Malik, who heads the India chapter of The Asia Group, a US advisory firm. Malik also said the trade deal the Indian side has offered to the US is the 'most expansive in this country's history,' referring to reports that India was willing to open up to some American agricultural products. That is a politically sensitive issue for Modi, who faced a yearlong farmers' protest a few years ago. The unravelling may have gained momentum over tariffs, but the tensions have been palpable for a while. Much of it has to do with Trump growing closer to Pakistan, India's nuclear rival in the neighbourhood. In May, India and Pakistan traded a series of military strikes over a gun massacre in the disputed Kashmir region that New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. Pakistan denied the accusations. The four-day conflict made the possibility of a nuclear conflagration between the two sides seem real and the fighting only stopped when global powers intervened. But it was Trump's claims of mediation and an offer to work to provide a 'solution' regarding the dispute over Kashmir that made Modi's administration uneasy. Since then, Trump has repeated nearly two dozen times that he brokered peace between India and Pakistan. For Modi, that is a risky — even nervy — territory. Domestically, he has positioned himself as a leader who is tough on Pakistan. Internationally, he has made huge diplomatic efforts to isolate the country. So Trump's claims cut a deep wound, prompting a sense in India that the US may no longer be its strategic partner. India insists that Kashmir is India's internal issue and had opposed any third-party intervention. Last week Modi appeared to dismiss Trump's claims after India's opposition began demanding answers from him. Modi said that 'no country in the world stopped' the fighting between India and Pakistan, but he did not name Trump. Trump has also appeared to be warming up to Pakistan, even praising its counterterrorism efforts. Hours after levying tariffs on India, Trump announced a 'massive' oil exploration deal with Pakistan, saying that one day, India might have to buy oil from Islamabad. Earlier, he also hosted one of Pakistan's top military officials at a private lunch. Sreeram Sundar Chaulia, an expert at New Delhi's Jindal School of International Affairs, said Trump's sudden admiration for Pakistan as a great partner in counterterrorism has 'definitely soured' the mood in India. Chaulia said 'the best-case scenario is that this is just a passing Trump whim', but he also warned that 'if financial and energy deals are indeed being struck between the US and Pakistan, it will dent the US-India strategic partnership and lead to loss of confidence in the US in Indian eyes". India had faced strong pressure from the Biden administration to cut back its oil purchases from Moscow during the early months of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Instead, India bought more, making it the second-biggest buyer of Russian oil after China. That pressure sputtered over time and the US focused more on building strategic ties with India, which is seen as a bulwark against a rising China. Trump's threat to penalise India over oil, however, brought back those issues. On Sunday, the Trump administration made its frustrations over ties between India and Russia ever more public. Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff at the White House, accused India of financing Russia's war in Ukraine by purchasing oil from Moscow, saying it was "not acceptable". Miller's remarks were followed by another Trump social media post on Monday in which he again threatened to raise tariffs on goods from India over its Russian oil purchases. 'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump wrote. Some experts, though, suspect Trump's remarks are mere pressure tactics. 'Given the wild fluctuations in Trump's policies,' Chaulia said, 'it may return to high fives and hugs again.' Many expected India to react strongly over Trump's tariff threats considering Modi's carefully crafted reputation of strength. Instead, the announcement prompted a rather careful response from India's commerce minister, Piyush Goyal, who said the two countries are working toward a "fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement". Initially, India's Foreign Ministry also played down suggestions of any strain. But in a statement late Monday, it called Trump's criticism 'unjustified and unreasonable' and said it will take 'all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security". It said India began importing oil from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, calling it a 'necessity compelled by global market situation". The statement also noted US trade with Russia. 'It is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia,' the statement said. — Euronews
Saudi Gazette
10 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
The Netherlands announces weapons package for Ukraine under new Trump-NATO initiative
AMSTERDAM — The Netherlands said on Monday that it will contribute €500 million to purchase US military equipment to be sent to Ukraine, becoming the first NATO country to forge a new protocol to provide Kyiv with American weaponry after US President Donald Trump tightened crucial military aid following his re-election. Last month, Trump announced that the US will continue to supply weapons to Ukraine, which would be paid for by Kyiv's European allies, but did not provide information on how this new system was designed to operate. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that 'As the first NATO Ally, the Netherlands will deliver a €500 million package of US weapon systems (including Patriot parts and missiles).' The Dutch defence chief noted that these weapons are of significant importance to Ukrainian soldiers fending off Russian attacks on the frontline and are needed to 'defend itself and the rest of Europe against Russian aggression.' NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the announcement on X, saying 'Great to see the Netherlands taking the lead and funding the first package of US military equipment for Ukraine under NATO's Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List initiative.' The NATO boss, who is also the former prime minister of the Netherlands, thanked allies for ensuring Ukraine remains equipped to continue to defend against the Kremlin's attacks and protect its skies and people. He also added that he hopes other NATO allies will make similar 'significant announcements' soon. The Dutch move comes a few weeks after several European countries including Germany and Norway purchased Patriot air defence systems from the US for Ukraine in a deal facilitated by NATO. On Friday, Berlin announced that it was providing a further two Patriot systems to Kyiv to further enhance its defence capabilities. US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker also welcomed the Dutch announcement, asserting that it fulfils Trump's initiative of 'allies buying American weapons to help Ukraine defend itself, pressure Russia and boost US jobs'. Whitaker noted that he expects more NATO allies to follow suit and supply Ukraine through this new mechanism. NATO said previously that it will coordinate this new initiative, funded by European allies and Canada, and broken up in packages worth roughly €500 million. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X to express his gratitude for Amsterdam leading the way in this new effort. 'Ukraine, and thus the whole of Europe, will be better protected from Russian terror. I am sincerely grateful to the Netherlands for their substantial contribution to strengthening Ukraine's air shield,' wrote Zelensky. 'The package is worth 500 million euros and includes American weapons, including missiles for the Patriots. The first such step among NATO countries and at a time when Russia is trying to scale up its strikes. This will definitely help protect the lives of our people.' Zelensky said this initiative is a result of the most recent NATO summit in The Hague in June. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said the weapons package will help Ukraine continue to fight for its own freedom as well as all of Europe's. — Euronews
Leaders
11 hours ago
- Leaders
‘Unreasonable': India Responds to US Tariff Threat over Russian Oil
New Delhi has responded to the US tariff threat, criticizing what it called the 'unjustifiable and unreasonable' targeting of India. The US President, Donald Trump, threatened India with 'substantially' steeper tariffs over its imports of Russian oil, few days after imposing a 25% levy on the country, reported BBC. Rejecting US Tariff Threat In an official statement, the spokesperson of India's Foreign Ministry, Randhir Jaiswal, responded to Trump's tariff threats, accusing the US and the European Union (EU) of targeting India. 'India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability,' the statement said. It added that Russian oil imports are 'a necessity compelled by global market situation' to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to Indian consumers. Harsh Criticism India sharply criticized the US and EU for attacking New Delhi while doing trade themselves with Russia. 'It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia,' the statement said, noting that this trade 'is not a vital national compulsion' for them. The statement went on to highlight the volume of trade between the EU and Russia, which in 2024 reached € 67.5 billion in goods, significantly surpassing India's total trade with Russia in the same year or subsequently. In the meantime, the US has maintained its imports from Russia, including uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers and chemicals, the statement added. Defending India's Interests The Indian Foreign Ministry's statement emphasized that Delhi will take the necessary measure to defend its national interests. 'The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable,' it said. 'Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,' the statement stressed. Trump Tariffs On Monday, Trump threatened New Delhi with much higher tariffs over its purchase of Russian oil, thus supporting Moscow's war effort in Ukraine. 'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits,' he posted on Truth Social. 'They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA,' Trump stated, without specifying the level of tariffs. Trump's new threat came days after he imposed a 25% tariff on imports from India, taking effect on August 1, 2025, in addition to unspecified 'penalty.' India-Russia Energy Ties India is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil and has emerged as one of the most significant markets for Russian exports after many European countries severed trade ties with Moscow following its war on Ukraine in 2022. According to a report released by the US Energy Information Administration earlier this year, New Delhi increased its imports of Russian oil from just under 100,000 barrels per day before the war to over 1.8 million barrels per day in 2023, accounting for 39% of overall imports. Furthermore, India imported 70% of Russian crude in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency. India has repeatedly defended its oil purchases from Russia. In an interview with CNBC last month, Delhi's Energy Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, reiterated the idea that his country's oil imports from Russia helped in stabilizing global energy prices and was encouraged by the US. 'If people or countries had stopped buying at that stage, the price of oil would have gone up to 130 dollars a barrel. That was a situation in which we were advised, including by our friends in the United States, to please buy Russian oil, but within the price cap,' he said. Short link : Post Views: 6
