 "‘Two great countries…’: After Trump's 'one side disaster' jibe, Bessent says India and US can resolve frictions")
Hours after US President Donald Trump claimed that India had offered to cut tariffs to zero , Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent voiced confidence that Washington and New Delhi could resolve trade frictions, saying, “Two great countries will get this solved.”
At the same time, he criticised India’s continued imports of Russian crude , warning that such purchases risked fuelling Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Trump, meanwhile, described trade with India as a “one-sided disaster,” alleging that high tariffs had long restricted US access to the Indian market. In a post on Truth Social, he argued that while India sells large volumes of goods to the US, American firms face “the highest tariffs of any country” in India.
In an interview with Fox News, Bessent sought to strike a more balanced note, underscoring the strength of bilateral ties. “Two great countries will get this solved,” he said, stressing that the two democracies could navigate their differences.
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Bessent downplayed concerns. “This is a longstanding meeting, it’s called the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and I think it’s largely performative,” he remarked. “At the end of the day, India is the most populous democracy in the world. Their values are much closer to ours than to China’s or Russia’s.”
Still, Bessent was sharply critical of India’s energy trade with Moscow. “The Indians have not been great actors in terms of buying Russian oil and then reselling it, financing the Russian war effort in Ukraine,” he said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHe also pointed to slow progress in trade negotiations as one reason behind Washington’s decision to raise tariffs on Indian goods. Bessent added that “all options are on the table” as the Trump administration considers further measures against Russia, accusing Vladimir Putin of escalating attacks despite ongoing peace talks.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
