India is acting defiant against the US dictates on buying discounted oil from Russia. That is the public posture, as Prime Minister Modi wants to keep his macho image intact. But the reality is not that simple. India today is more than ready to compromise and, courtesy of the behind-the-scenes understanding, the two countries are reportedly close to a trade deal.
President Trump has been urging India to stop or at least reduce importing Russian crude. Increasing tariffs on Indian goods was just one of the levers he has used. Many say that President Trump has successfully used the Pakistan card with India to pressure New Delhi into accepting US demands. His objective is to increase pressure on Moscow and make it compromise towards a negotiated deal on stopping the war in Ukraine.
But to achieve that, President Trump needs India and China to reduce, if not stop, buying crude from Russia. Strangely enough, India remains his major target.
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