The erstwhile President of the United States, Donald Trump, again highlighted India’s strategic interplay between global forces with some focus on its age-old association with Russia. India, he recently said, buys most of its oil and defense apparatus from Russia while very little from the U.S. This also resurrects the entire discussion about India’s foreign policy choices. Donald Trump Talks About India Depending on Russia Than US

Donald Trump Talks About India

India, the third-largest importer of crude oil, has increased crude imports from Russia rather steadily after the Ukraine situation culminated in deep discounting of Russian oil. It is being said that 2024 Russia will elbow out all other suppliers to be the top supplier of crude oil to India. Trump noted that this was one of the big factors that had kept India glued to Moscow, saying Washington is not a major supplier for India’s energy needs.

The Defense Implications with Moscow

Historically, India has also relied for military hardware on oil. This encompasses everything from fighter jets to submarines; 60 to 70 percent of India’s stores of defense equipment are manufactured in Russia. Trump said, although the U.S. was willing to boost defense trade, New Delhi remains dependent on Russian equipment because of long-term contracts, lower costs, and operational familiarity.

Blender of U.S. Share in Trade

Trump opined that India’s trading with the U.S. characterizes very wooden purchases. This, however, has enhanced in the last ten years, but remains marginal compared to the huge defense sales to Russia. Oil-wise, India has reduced imports from the U.S. which are almost negligible in comparison with shipments from Moscow.

Also Read: Donald Trump Appoints Sergio Gor U.S. Ambassador to India: A Signal to PM Modi?

Indian Strategic Balancing

Analysts say that this observation by Trump mirrors a rather complicated geopolitical reality. India has maintained the policy of strategic autonomy, balancing its engagement with Washington and Moscow.

Trump’s observations express a fragile balance in India’s foreign policy. The New Delhi government continues to diversify in defense and energy partnerships, although it is quite clear that Russia will play a major role in these ongoing negotiations along with the U.S.

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