THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
President Trump asked his best friends to help punish India and China. His friends said no. This simple story shows how the world is changing.
Trump wanted Europe and other allied countries to put huge taxes on goods from India and China. They make imported products much more expensive.
Why did Trump want this? He wanted to pressure Russia to stop the war in Ukraine. His idea was simple: India and China buy lots of oil from Russia. If we make it expensive for India and China to trade with everyone else, maybe they will stop buying Russian oil. No oil sales means less money for Russia’s war.
The Strange Logic
But here’s the puzzle: If Trump wants to hurt Russia, why not attack Russia directly? Why go after India and China instead?
The answer is that harsh punishments against Russia already exist. Europe has banned most Russian oil. Many Russian companies cannot do business with Western countries. More than half of Russia’s trade is already blocked.
So Trump tried a different approach: pressure Russia’s customers instead of Russia itself. This suggests that the direct approach hasn’t worked very well.
Europe Refuses
The European Union said no to Trump’s request. This surprised many people because Europe usually supports American ideas, especially about the Ukraine war.
European leaders said they would not put tariffs on India and China. This refusal is important because it shows that even America’s closest allies are now willing to disagree with American demands.
America’s Tariff Problem
Trump doesn’t just use tariffs against enemies. He also uses them against friends. He put heavy taxes on goods from Canada, Mexico, and Europe. These are America’s closest allies and biggest trading partners.
This approach treats economic pressure as the solution to every problem. Instead of talking and negotiating, Trump prefers to threaten economic punishment.
Friends Fighting Back
This strategy is creating unexpected results. Canada, America’s peaceful neighbour, is now planning to depend less on the United States. Canadian leaders are building stronger relationships with European countries because they see America as unreliable.
Think about this: Canada and America share the world’s longest peaceful border. They have been friends for over 150 years. But now Canada is preparing to deal with what its leaders call an “unfriendly America.”
Why Countries Say No
In the past, when America asked allies to do something, they usually said yes. Not anymore. Several things have changed:
1.Other countries got stronger.
China, India, and European countries have bigger economies now. They don’t need America’s permission for everything.
2.Threats don’t work.
When America threatens countries, they don’t just give in. Instead, they look for ways to protect themselves from American pressure.
3.Trust is broken.
Countries worry that if America threatens them today, it might threaten them again tomorrow. So they prepare alternatives.
India’s Example
India shows how countries now respond to American pressure. Despite Trump’s threats, India continues buying Russian oil. Why? Because cheap oil helps India’s economy and its people.
India is confident enough to ignore American demands when they hurt Indian interests. This would have been impossible 20 years ago, but today India feels strong enough to say no.
The Real Cost
Trump’s tariff strategy is creating serious long-term problems:
1.Allies are leaving.
Instead of working with America, allies are working with each other. They are creating new partnerships that don’t include America.
2.Trade is moving away.
Countries are finding new customers and suppliers to replace American businesses.
3.Trust is disappearing.
Nations worry that America might suddenly change its mind and attack them economically.
A Changing World
The failure to get European support shows that America’s old approach to leadership isn’t working anymore. Other countries, including best friends like Canada and Europe, are more independent now.
This doesn’t mean America is weak, but it does mean America needs new strategies. Threatening people usually makes them angry, not cooperative.
What Allies Want
Countries want to be partners, not servants. They want America to:
(1) Listen to their concerns
(2) Respect their interests
(3) Work together instead of giving orders
(4) Use cooperation instead of threats
The Bottom Line
Trump’s attempt to get allies to punish India and China failed completely. This failure teaches an important lesson: in today’s world, countries have choices.
When America threatens allies, they don’t just accept it anymore. They find new friends, new trading partners, and new ways to solve problems without America.
America is still powerful, but power without friendship becomes useless. The world has changed, and America needs to change too.
The choice is simple: work with friends or work alone. Right now, America is choosing to work alone, and its friends are learning to live without America.
References
1.https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/11/trump-asking-eu-to-slap-100percent-tariffs-on-india-and-china-raises-eyebrows.html
2.https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-tariffs-live-updates-us-urges-g7-to-put-duties-on-china-and-india-175804462.html
