The words “Make America Great Again” were a
promise, a beacon of hope for a nation and a world yearning for a return to a
more prosperous time. It was a compelling phrase that resonated deeply, not
just with a hopeful electorate, but with nations across the globe who saw it as
a new dawn for diplomacy and trade. But that hope soon soured.
The promise of renewed greatness was quickly
overshadowed by the wrecking ball of tariff tantrums. A builder uses a
trowel and mortar, but a wrecking ball and sledgehammer can only destroy. The
elegant phrase, once a symbol of optimism, was lost in a maze of economic
warfare. The vision of a revitalized manufacturing base, with factories humming
to life, was a beautiful dream. Yet, the reality is a stark and painful one:
rebuilding an industrial workforce and the infrastructure to support it is not
a task for a single term, but a generational one—a process that requires
decades, not years. The damage done in the name of MAGA is not easily
undone.
The resulting fractures in global relationships are
deep, perhaps even irreparable. The work of decades has been undone in a matter
of years, leaving behind a legacy that will require Herculean effort from
future administrations to mend. The world watches with a sense of profound
sadness, as the very relationships that were once hailed as the
"defining" ones of our time now stand on the brink of complete
collapse. The world’s leading nation, in its bid for a tarnished form of
greatness, has isolated itself, leaving behind a trail of broken trust and
shattered alliances. The cost of this path, it seems, is one we have only just
begun to pay.
The
citizens of Bharat are understandably puzzled and more than a little restless
regarding the latest tariff threats emanating from the Trump camp. The
collective question on everyone's lips seems to be, "What do we have to do
with the conflict in Ukraine?" After all, this particular crisis, as many
see it, was set in motion by the U.S. and its NATO allies, whose persistent
push to include Ukraine was met with a clear and consistent red line from
Russia: no NATO on its doorstep.
This
confusion is compounded by the past pronouncements of Donald Trump himself,
who, not so long ago, publicly declared his deep affection for India, its
people, and Hindus in particular. He even promised that "India and Hindus
would have a true friend in the White House," a statement that, in
retrospect, now feels like a quaint historical footnote.
One
must wonder, what exactly went wrong? Where, when, and at whose hands did this
supposed friendship curdle into constant scrutiny and the threat of
tariffs—even punitive secondary ones—for the 'crime' of buying crude oil from
Russia? The irony is not lost on us: it was the very same United States that,
in 2023 and 2024, encouraged India to continue these purchases to help keep
global crude prices stable. Yet here we are in 2025, suddenly being accused of
profiteering from war, funding the conflict, and laundering funds for Russia.
It seems a true friend's memory can be remarkably short when political winds
shift.
Our very essence is one of quiet strength and
civility, a testament to a civilization built on endurance. Our soft-spoken,
polite nature is often mistaken for meekness or frailty. However, this is a
profound misreading of our character. Our true power lies in our capacity to
endure and persevere, a unique resilience that defines us.
When faced with a threat, we don't react with
aggression or recklessness. Instead, we stand firm and double down on our
resolve. We meticulously explore alternatives, war-game various scenarios, and
prepare our options, keeping them open and ready. Our strategy is to patiently
wear down our opponent, waiting for the most opportune moment and place to
launch a counter-offensive. The surprise and intensity of this strike will
leave our adversary gasping at our audacity.
The early years of India's independence were marked by
a tentative but distinct diplomacy. While its first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal
Nehru, maintained a reserved stance toward the American people, his daughter,
Indira Gandhi, later demonstrated a fleeting but powerful resistance during her
dealings with President Richard Nixon and his Secretary of State, Henry
Kissinger. This was a period when the U.S. leadership, caught in the throes of
the Cold War and a desire to align with China through Pakistan, harbored a
profound distrust of India. It was in this context that Kissinger, in a
now-declassified conversation, uttered a derogatory word for Prime Minister
Gandhi, an unsavory expression that soon became public knowledge. This
incident, while a low point, underscored a clash of wills and values.
Yet, the true test of India's resolve came later, in
1998, with the nuclear tests conducted under the tenure of Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee. In response, the United States swiftly imposed economic
sanctions, aiming to cripple India's progress. But in an act of profound
defiance, India did not break. It did not bend. Instead, it endured with a
stoic resolve. The sanctions, intended as a punishment, inadvertently became a
catalyst. They drove India toward a path of self-reliance, a journey it
might not have otherwise embarked upon with such urgency. Ultimately, it was
the United States that chose to re-engage, lifting the sanctions and
acknowledging India's unyielding position on the global stage. This moment was
not just a diplomatic victory; it was a testament to the nation's ability to
transform adversity into a defining moment of its own history.
Now let us turn our attention to the relationship that was touted to be the “Defining relationship of the 21st century as per the public pronouncement by the four previous administration of the USA. Our GDP Based on data from Macrotrends and the World Bank, in 1998 was $421.35 billion the sanctions imposed not withstanding Atal Bihari Vajpayee's second and third terms as Prime Minister of India were from March 1998 to May 2004. During this period, the highest annual GDP growth rate for India was 8.85% in 1999.Now we have a GDP of USD 4trillion plus, we are the 4th largest economy of the world, add to this the fastest growing large economy of the world. This economy by no stretch of imagination can be termed a dead economy as President Donald Trump has, this did not elicit an angry retort from us, because we respond in a very measured & deliberate manner. This incumbent president will not be in office 3 years down the line, yet the future administrations will get the taste of our response. Such insults are not forgotten or forgiven, in fact they exact an unbearable cost, over a long duration of time. The defining relationship of the 21st century is shatter & the tiny bits are scattered all over the place, the onus is squarely on the USA to gather these tiny bits & rebuild the relationship as for us, the trust has been lost & it can’t be restored for all times to come. The tariffs imposed have not bothered us in fact our response has been very calm. Shipments of apparels which had already reached the shores of USA were recalled & redirected to other countries, we look for solutions not confrontations, Similar is the case of Seafood items we have identified new markets to sell our products, we are not dependent on a single market. Our exporters are now actively seeking out new markets to sell their products, these tariffs are proving to be a blessing in disguise. Diversified market reduces risks in International trade. The blow back is coming from us that is what the trump administration should brace itself for. the public is getting restive & will start reacting, I do not wish to speculate as to what the outcome shall be & what will be severity of this blow back. The public reaction is spontaneous & beyond the capacity of any democratically elected government to control, temper or restrain. The Deputy Chief of Army Staff in his statement had mentioned 4 adversaries that we simultaneously faced off against during Operation Sindoor. 3 were named and the 4th name was not mentioned. We are acutely aware of the 4th name. The recent nuclear threat held out to us from the American soil by the visiting Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan has not gone unnoticed, we fully understand the implications & the games that are currently being played.
We are prepared to meet any & every
eventuality with our full might & prevail. We are keenly observing
the statements events & action, we will respond without anger in a very
mature & measured manner, there is no backing off, backing down or bending.
Tariff Tantrums by Trump will play out. Our response will be hard to counter
& difficult to digest.
It's a strange and sobering thought, but perhaps one of the most unexpected legacies of a certain American administration will be the unintended consequences of its foreign policy. The world was once a place of predictable alignments, but now, the landscape is profoundly altered.
The BRICS coalition, once a loose assembly of nations,
has been forged into an undeniably strong and cohesive bloc. Similarly, the
so-called Global South, previously a disparate collection of countries, has
found a unified voice and a collective sense of purpose. Alliances like NATO,
which once seemed unbreakable, now bear the clear marks of deep fractures,
their trust in each other shaken. Meanwhile, some former competitors have not
only survived but thrived, growing in strength and influence.
Perhaps most lamentable of all is the transformation
of relationships that were once full of such promise. A proud and vibrant
nation, previously an eager partner, now engages with a palpable sense of
distrust. The door remains open, but the warmth and camaraderie have been
replaced by a cautious distance. What was once hailed as a "defining
relationship" has been reduced to a pragmatic and transactional one, a
testament to how quickly confidence can be lost and how difficult it is to
reclaim.
