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COVER STORY AUGUST 29, 2025 | The Indian Eye 4

TRUMP’S TARIFFS

INDIA REBUILDS

BRIDGES

New Delhi is crafting a multipolar strategy as US trade barriers push it closer to Beijing and Moscow

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi / Beijing / Moscow
hen Chinese Foreign Min-
ister Wang Yi landed in
WNew Delhi for a two-day
visit in August, few would have ex-
pected such an elaborate show of
warmth after years of tension along
the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Yet, the meetings that followed—
stretching from the corridors of
Hyderabad House to the Prime
Minister’s residence—revealed a de-
liberate Indian attempt to recalibrate
ties with Beijing. Barely a day later,
External Affairs Minister S. Jais-
hankar was in Moscow, engaging his
Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov
on trade and strategic cooperation.
This dual engagement with Chi-
na and Russia is not a coincidence.
It comes at a time when Washington,
under President Donald Trump, has
slapped punitive tariffs on Indian
goods, citing New Delhi’s energy Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (DPR PMO/ANI Photo)
trade with Russia.
The tariffs—rising to 50 per
cent—have jolted Indian exporters ten points of consensus, ranging from a diplomatic win; for India, it is a cal- eas of cooperation.
culated step to keep doors open with
border management to reopening
and sharpened India’s awareness of traditional border markets. a powerful neighbor amid global tur-
the risks of overdependence on the The emphasis was on restoring bulence. TRADE, OIL AND TRUST
United States. In this shifting land- trust. Both sides reiterated that peace Ajit Doval underlined the prog- f relations with China are about
scape, India is seeking to stabilize along the LAC was essential for the ress made since Modi and Xi met in managing mistrust, ties with Rus-
relations with Beijing and expand broader relationship. They agreed Kazan in 2024, noting that “borders Isia are about leveraging trust.
its already resilient partnership with on setting up expert groups, reviving have been quiet” and engagements Jaishankar’s three-day Moscow visit
Moscow.
dialogue mechanisms, and creating “more substantial.” The Chinese showcased the depth of this bond.
new channels for military-level com- side, in turn, promised to address Meeting Lavrov and Deputy PM De-
FROM STANDOFF TO munication in the eastern and middle three critical Indian concerns—rare nis Manturov, he co-chaired the 26th

STABILIZATION sectors. earths, fertilizers, and tunnel-boring Inter-Governmental Commission
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s machines—signaling a willingness to and pushed for expanding bilateral
he memory of the Ladakh meeting with Wang Yi was particu- reduce friction in economic ties. trade.
clashes of 2020 still looms larly significant. Modi accepted Pres- This tentative thaw does not The numbers tell their own story.
Tlarge, but the 24th round of ident Xi Jinping’s invitation to attend erase strategic mistrust. But it does India-Russia trade surged from USD
Special Representatives’ talks be- the Shanghai Cooperation Organiza- signal that both sides, constrained 13 billion in 2021 to USD 68 billion
tween NSA Ajit Doval and Wang Yi tion (SCO) summit in Tianjin, calling by economic pressures and regional in 2024–25—a fivefold jump. Russia
offered a rare note of optimism. Chi- for “stable, predictable, constructive uncertainties, are ready to compart- is now among India’s top three trad-
nese Ambassador Xu Feihong listed ties.” For Beijing, Modi’s presence is mentalize disputes and focus on ar- Continued on next page... >>

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