Trump’s Imperialism and India

January 11, 2026

Abhishek Vij

US President Donald Trump, emboldened by the power of the dollar, the threat of tariffs, and military might, wants to impose his policies on the entire world. Trump wants the world to buy petroleum from the US and stop buying Russian oil. In his latest statement, he said that if India does not stop buying Russian oil, it could face tariffs of 500 percent instead of 50 percent. The same threat has been issued to China and Brazil.

Trump believes that the world should trade with him on his terms and at his prices. He wants countries to buy goods only from the US and not from Russia or China. In a dangerous move, a new law is about to be passed in the US Congress that would exempt Trump from restrictions on imposing and removing tariffs. Trump claims he has already spoken to the Democrats about this. If this law passes, Trump’s power will double. Clearly, the threat of 50 to 500 percent tariffs has shaken India’s exports, and the Indian stock markets are continuously plummeting. This unchecked American aggression is not limited to this. It’s a policy of praising our Prime Minister while simultaneously slapping our economy, because India, along with Russia and China, is becoming a rapidly emerging global power. It seems Trump wants to dismantle the global economy. He has announced the US withdrawal from 66 international organizations, including several UN bodies and the India-France led International Solar Alliance.

This includes 25 UN organizations and 35 non-UN organizations. The India-France Solar Alliance is also included. There are continuous obstacles in India-US relations. Under diplomatic protocol, the Indian ambassador met with the US State Department and thanked the US for supporting India against terrorist activities. However, America’s constantly changing behavior could create a difficult period for India and could also negatively impact Indian exports. India believes it can maintain its economic growth rate at 7.4 percent. Meanwhile, Trump’s aggressive tactics are escalating. The US military seized a Russian tanker that was on its way to buy oil from Venezuela. Attempts to seize Greenland, which is rich in rare earth minerals, are also underway.

For this purpose, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be meeting with officials in Denmark. Wherever there are mineral resources, the US wants to establish its dominance. It wants to sell its agricultural and dairy products in India’s vast market, but India has so far maintained its independence. It is true that due to America’s vocal displeasure, India has reduced its oil purchases from Russia, but it does not intend to stop them completely. In the trade negotiations between the US and India, India is not ready to compromise and does not want to jeopardize the livelihoods of Indian farmers by giving unrestricted access to American agricultural products. This is the main obstacle. Trump’s ambitions are growing. He has also angered the countries of the European Union. What should India do? It is clear that India will now have to move closer to China in addition to Russia. So, it is not unlikely that the map of international relations will change in the world.