Is it strange?
Being touched at various sensitive points made India feel pain, and it was too risky for them to shout at the United States.
The United States extinguished the candles for the 250th anniversary, and it happened to coincide with mourning by Iran’s former supreme leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. President Trump was very surprised and made a provocative statement, saying, "We could have wiped them out all at once."
Now, Pawan Khera, a spokesman for India’s opposition party the Indian National Congress, has been annoyed.
He posted on social media X, saying that many Indian delegations also went to Iran to express their condolences. Trump's words are provocative and irresponsible, "endangering peace in West Asia."
This member of parliament, who has always criticized Indian Prime Minister Modi, then attacked the government for its “compromise” and lack of moral courage in denouncing “American masters”.
Not surprising.
It sounds familiar.
Last month, a cruise ship carrying 24 Indian crew members was attacked by US military forces in the Gulf of Oman. Three people died, reportedly due to “repeated refusal to comply with US military instructions”.
During the subsequent G7 summit, the leaders of the two countries met, but Trump gave an expression of "understanding", without any hint of apology. Naturally, India was not willing to give up.
During the G7 summit, Trump met with Modi. Oriental IC
"A free country would not tolerate such rhetoric," said Hu'er-Gan-di, the leader of the Communist Party. "But what about our accommodating prime minister? He has remained silent, like a submissive servant following orders."
During Trump's first term, although there were concerns about trade imbalances, the overall relationship between the United States and India was not as problematic as it might seem.
The turning point occurred in May last year during the conflict between India and Pakistan.
The conflict ended a week later, as Trump demonstrated his ability to use sanctions as a threat to achieve a ceasefire between the two sides. India has always opposed external interference, and thus was very displeased with these remarks. Pakistan, on the other hand, supported Trump strongly, even calling for him to receive a Nobel Prize.
Since then, the rift between the two countries began to widen.
Trump imposed harsh tariffs on New Delhi, and increased the price of H-1B visas, which benefit India the most. Not to mention the threats of sanctions against India for buying Russian oil.
There’s even worse: Trump is treating Pakistan as a negotiating partner, attempting to end the war with Iran.
Next, the United States takes another measure of covering their mouths.
In mid-June this year, the US military reverted the name of its “Indo-Pacific Command” to its original name, “Pacific Command”. Many commentators believe that this move to remove the designation is an attempt by the United States to make concessions to China and avoid provoking China.
In 2018, when the then U.S. Secretary of Defense announced the addition of the word “India” to the name, it effectively gave India the official title of “an agent against China.”
However, yesterday it was "Sweet Dreams", today it's "Mrs. Cow".
Despite U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor waving his hand and saying "I don't care about the title," the Indian media "The Deccan Herald" saw something deeper in this remark.
The newspaper published an editorial on July 7, stating that Gore himself was the best example of the deterioration in US-India relations, as he also served as the Special Envoy for South Asia and Central Asia affairs.
Despite India's inability to counterbalance the United States in the same way as China, New Delhi must understand that Washington is not a reliable ally. The editorial also states that India should focus on developing relations with different countries and regions, rather than relying on alliances. Maintaining "strategic autonomy" will be key to safeguarding geopolitical and defense interests.
Modi seemed to have a plan in mind; on the surface, he congratulated the United States on its 250th anniversary. Trump also shared the congratulatory message.
Bloomberg notes that Modi has been focusing on strengthening ties with the Western Indian Ocean in recent weeks, and is now turning his attention to the Eastern Indian Ocean.
Just after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Masako Muto, he set off for Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Modi Receives Governor Shigemaro Aso
The Indian ambassador revealed that the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles will be a key topic of discussion during the talks. Although India cannot replace the United States in Indonesia's defense procurement, it at least aligns with Indonesia's desire to avoid relying on a single supplier.
In addition, the Andaman-Nicobar-Sahgal corridor is also a focus of concern for both parties. This is an important move by India to approach the Strait of Malacca.
"India Rapid News" refers to a call for "the future of India's presence in the region to be realized not in distant nations, but in strategic unity between nations relevant to this region."
Since Prime Minister Modi last visited Australia in 2023, the two countries have remained concerned about the situation and their main focus has been on China. According to an analyst at the Australian-India Institute, Kim Heriot-Darragh, “The concerns remain unchanged since PM Modi's visit to Australia in 2023.” As for the change in the US political landscape, the analyst believes this may have heightened the concerns.
However, Sumit Ganguly of the Hoover Institute at Stanford University wrote in Foreign Policy on July 6 that the problem lies in India's inflexible foreign policy. "Strategic autonomy" is not suitable for emerging global powers.
The article argues that India’s continued acquisition of weapons from Russia, by positioning it as a reliable partner, has not strengthened U.S.-India relations; “strategic autonomy” has had the opposite effect.
This researcher, who is dedicated to "strengthening US-India relations," must have intentionally overlooked the sincere words of our own diplomats.
On March 5th, Christopher Landau, the Deputy Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, made it clear in India that the United States would not repeat the mistake of 20 years ago, which led to India becoming the next “China”.
Who kicked away the ladder leading to wealth? It’s clear at a glance.
Trump once described Modi as both an "angel" and a "killer," but it’s unclear whether Modi would dare to wield a sword against the true "devil."
