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India stresses on need for export diversification, reducing dependency at SCO meeting in Russia, proposes SCO cooperation on fair & secure e-commerce frameworks

OpIndia Staff
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India stresses on need for export diversification, reducing dependency at SCO meeting in Russia, proposes SCO cooperation on fair & secure e-commerce frameworks

India stressed the scope to leverage the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) collective strengths for shared prosperity at the SCO Trade Ministers’ Meeting held in Vladivostok in Russia on 6 September 2025. The Indian delegation also highlighted the need for export diversification, reducing dependency, and building resilient supply chains.

With the SCO accounting for 42% of the world’s population and 17.2% of global trade, India emphasised the importance of coordinated action to enhance trade flows, address vulnerabilities, and support inclusive growth across the region.

Representing the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Amitabh Kumar, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, underlined the need for an open, fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. He highlighted the importance of a development-centred agenda that includes a permanent solution on Public Stockholding (PSH) for food security purposes, effective Special & Differential Treatment (S&DT) for developing countries, and restoration of a fully functional two-tier WTO dispute settlement system.

He also underlined the role of services trade and the temporary movement of skilled professionals, in line with national laws and transparency, to strengthen economic growth and support greater participation of MSMEs in global value chains.

India stressed the importance of diversifying and de-risking supply and production chains through geographical spread, interoperable logistics, predictable market access, and enhanced connectivity, while upholding principles of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It noted that persistent trade imbalances must be addressed through better market access, cooperation on standards, and streamlined trade facilitation. India cautioned that export-related measures should not be weaponised or misused to create artificial scarcity, distort markets, or disrupt supply chains, and emphasised that their calibrated and transparent use is essential to maintain trust in international commerce.

On the digital economy, India proposed SCO workstreams focused on fair, transparent and predictable regulatory frameworks, voluntary cooperation on best practices, and capacity-building for secure, innovation-led digitalisation. India also showcased its achievements in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including UPI for real-time payments, India Stack for identity and consent management, and ONDC for unbundled digital commerce. These initiatives were presented as low-cost, standards-based and replicable models to reduce MSME costs, expand access to markets, and enable real-time settlements, including through pilot projects among trusted partners.

On sustainable development, India emphasised equity and the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC). It highlighted the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) initiative and underscored that climate action must be supported by finance and affordable technology flows. India also cautioned that trade-linked climate measures should not result in arbitrary or unjustified discrimination.

India spotlighted the AVGC sector (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics) as an engine of employment, exports and inclusive growth. It recalled its successful hosting of the first-ever World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) earlier this year, which attracted participants from over 100 countries. The Summit catalysed multiple initiatives, including Waves Bazaar for global media collaboration, WaveX for creative start-up funding, and Creatosphere for talent development through the Create in India Challenge. Through the India Cine Hub, supported by simplified regulatory frameworks and 17 co-production agreements already in place, India is positioning itself as a global film production hub.

India thanked the Russian Presidency of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) for steering a substantive trade and economic agenda and advancing practical cooperation. It reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate under Tajikistan’s Chairmanship of the SCO CHG in 2026–27 to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the region.

Rajdeep Sardesai endorses ‘bench hunting’ and ‘forum shopping’ by Umar Khalid, rationalises repeated withdrawal of bail applications by the Delhi riot accused

OpIndia Staff
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Rajdeep Sardesai endorses ‘bench hunting’ and ‘forum shopping’ by Umar Khalid, rationalises repeated withdrawal of bail applications by the Delhi riot accused

The rejection of bail to 2020 Delhi anti-Hindu riots accused Umar Khalid and others, by the Delhi High Court earlier this month, has, quite expectedly, rattled the left liberal gang.

The High Court rejected the bail plea of the accused after observing that the accusations against Khalid and other co-accused in the case were prima facie true. But, ‘journalist’ Rajdeep Sardesai, who is perturbed by the rejection of Umar Khal’d ‘s bail plea.

According to him, a ‘narrative’ is being spread across social media that Khalid has been languishing in jail for years, not because of the judicial delay but because his advocates have been seeking repeated adjournments during the hearing of his bail plea.

While Rajdeep Sardesai does not deny that Khalid’s lawyer has been seeking adjournments, he goes on to justify their delaying tactics and forum shopping, which were seen through by the High Court, by saying that his lawyers were right in seeking the adjourments and withdrawing his Special Leave Petition (SLP) from the Supreme Court, as it was listed before a judge, who has a track-record of not granting bail in such cases.

How Khalid wanted to use his prolonged inacrceration as a ground for bail

Notably, during the hearing of the bail plea of Khalid, the prosecution apprised the court about the delaying tactics of Khalid’s lawyers. Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad pointed out that between 2023 and 2024, seven out of fourteen adjournments were sought by Khalid’s lawyers. Thus, the so-called delays in the hearing of the bail plea of Khalid were not caused by a slow-paced judicial procedure but were engineered by his lawyers to use his long incarceration period as a ground for bail.

The prosecution also highlighted that after Khalid’s bail plea was rejected by the High Court in 2022, he inexplicably waited for almost 6 months to file an SLP before the Supreme Court in April 2023, and later on, withdrew the SLP citing “change in circumstances”. The so-called change in circumstances coincided with two developments. Firstly, a change in the Bench after Justice Aniruddha Bose stepped down, and cases were listed before Justice Bela Trivedi. Khalid’s lawyers resisted this and sought repeated de-tagging and relisting.

Interestingly, during Khalid’s bail hearing in the trial court and the Delhi High Court, his lawyer, Kapil Sibal, cleverly tried to pin the delays in Khalid’s bail hearing on the Supreme Court, claiming that repeated adjournments and the eventual withdrawal of the SLP in February 2023 were forced by the slow pace of the proceedings and changes in circumstances. Sibal tried to misportray Khalid as a victim of the judicial system, while, in fact, he was misusing the very system to secure Khalid’s freedom. It is important to note here that Khalid’s case does not qualify for the ‘bail is the norm and jail is the exception’ principle, as a 2024 Supreme Court ruling clarified that in cases under the UAPA “jail is the norm and bail is the exception”.

Former CJI Chandrachud called out Khalid for his delaying tactics

The forum shopping and delaying tactics of Khalid’s lawyers were also called out by the former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. The former CJI also pointed out the same facts as presented by the prosecution before the Delhi High Court during the hearing of Khalid’s bail plea. He said that Khalid’s lawyers repeatedly sought adjournments before the court and withdrew his bail application from the Supreme Court, while making it seem like the entire judicial system was acting against him.

Trump’s attack dog Peter Navarro gets mad at ‘community notes’ of X for debunking his lies about Russian oil imports by India

OpIndia Staff
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Trump’s attack dog Peter Navarro gets mad at ‘community notes’ of X for debunking his lies about Russian oil imports by India

Peter Navarro, former trade adviser to US President Donald Trump, slammed Elon Musk on social media platform X. The response came after one of his posts about India’s Russian oil imports was fact-checked by a community post of X on Saturday, 6th September.

Navarro accused Musk of allowing “propaganda” to appear on the platform, but soon found himself at the receiving end of a community note that corrected his claims.

In his post, Navarro wrote, “Wow. @elonmusk is letting propaganda into people’s posts. That crap note below is just that. Crap. India buys Russian oil solely to profiteer. It didn’t buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine. Indian government’s spin machine is moving at high tilt. Stop killing Ukrainians. Stop taking American jobs.”

Navarro’s flagged post was the latest in a series of such allegations he has made against India over Russian oil trade.

“FACTS: India highest tariffs costs U.S. jobs. India buys Russian oil purely to profit/Revenues feed Russia war machine. Ukrainians/Russians die. U.S. taxpayers shell out more. India can’t handle truth/spins @washpo Leftist American fake news,” Navarro’s latest post read.

He was referring to a news piece by The Washington Post, which said that the kind of language being used for India from Washington was worsening diplomatic ties.

Community post of X fact-checked Navarro

A community of X users flagged Navarro’s post, particularly debunking the “profiteer” accusation against India. Here’s what the note read:

“Navarro’s claims are hypocritical. India’s legal, sovereign purchases of Russian oil for energy security do not violate international law. The US, while pressuring India, continues to import billions in Russian goods, like uranium, exposing a clear double standard.”

Not only did the note fact-check Navarro, but it also accused the US of having a “double standard”, citing its good trade with Russia.

An earlier version of the community note had defended India’s intent behind the oil trade, saying the purchase was “for energy security, not just profit”.

Navarro’s long-running attacks on India

This is not the first time Navarro has targeted India over its energy trade. He has repeatedly accused New Delhi of “feeding Russia’s war machine” and recently claimed that India’s tariffs were costing “American jobs.” His latest post was a response to a Washington Post article discussing tensions inside Trump’s administration over how to handle India.

Last week, in an interview with Bloomberg Television, Navarro doubled down on his accusations, saying, “India is helping feed the Russian war machine. I mean Modi’s war, because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi.”

India, however, strongly rejected his statements. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed Navarro’s comments as “inaccurate and misleading.”

Navarro earlier claimed that India’s oil trade with Russia is purely profiteering

The senior counsellor for trade and manufacturing to US President Donald Trump has earlier claimed that India’s import of Russian oil is not driven by ‘domestic demand’ but illicit profiteering.

There is no evidence for this claim. India has to fend for its 1.4 billion people and mitigate domestic demand. After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, there was a massive jump in crude oil prices.

Oil Public Service Undertakings (PSUs) in India purchased Russian oil and incurred cumulative losses of $2.5 billion between April 2022 and January 2023, to ensure that domestic fuel prices remained stable.

The Modi government framed rules that mandated private refineries to sell at least 50% of their exported petrol volume back into the domestic market. A similar 30% cap was levied on the export of diesel.

At the same time, an export tax was imposed to prevent massive profiteering. These strategic decisions helped in stabilising fuel prices not just in India but in the world.

It must be mentioned that around that time, OPEC+ countries had cut down on crude oil production by 5.86 million barrels per day. Without India’s timely intervention and key decisions, fuel prices could have spiralled out of control.

President Donald Trump, who wants to end all wars in the world, renames Department of Defense as Department of War, signages at Pentagon changed

OpIndia Staff
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President Donald Trump, who wants to end all wars in the world, renames Department of Defense as Department of War, signages at Pentagon changed

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense to Department of War. Accordingly, the Secretary of Defense will also be called the Secretary of War. The decision was already announced earlier, and the formal order was signed yesterday.

The Department was originally called the Department of War when it was established in 1789. But it was renamed as Department of Defence in 1947, 2 years after the end of Word War II. President Donald Trump said, “The name “Department of War,” more than the current “Department of Defense,” ensures peace through strength, as it demonstrates our ability and willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our Nation at a moment’s notice, not just to defend.”

After the order was passed, process of changing signages around the Pentagon has already started. Videos show workers replacing signages of Department of with Department of War.

Signs of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his deputy Steve Feinberg were promptly changed to “Secretary of War” and “Deputy Secretary of War” on the doors of their offices.

Workers at the Pentagon were seen scrambling to replace signages, transforming the iconic five-sided building into a living testament to Trump’s unconventional approach to global peace.

The website of the department has already been changed from defense.gov to war.gov. Its X account is now called @DeptofWar.

Ironically, the order for name change came from the president who wants to end all wars in the world. Donald Trump is demanding the Nobel Peace Prize with the claim that he has already ended seven wars in the world. He is trying hard to end the Russia-Ukraine war, by punishing India, but has not been successful so far.

As per reports, the name change will be costly, as the govt will have to replace a large number of signages, letterheads, and other stationery used not only at the Pentagon, but at all US defence establishments across the world.

‘What was the need of emblem?’ ‘Emblem at our religious place is blasphemy’: Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti defend vandalism of national emblem at Hazratbal shrine

OpIndia Staff
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‘What was the need of emblem?’ ‘Emblem at our religious place is blasphemy’: Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti defend vandalism of national emblem at Hazratbal shrine

The defacement of the Ashoka emblem at the revered Hazratbal shrine in Jammu and Kashmir has snowballed into a major political controversy, with regional leaders attempting to justify the vandalism by citing hurt religious sentiments, even as the BJP has called it a direct assault on India’s national symbols.

On Friday, angry Muslim mob at the shrine vandalized a plaque engraved with the national emblem during Eid-e-Milad celebrations, shouting slogans against the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board. The plaque had been installed after the completion of renovation works and was inaugurated earlier this week.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned the very decision to install the emblem at a religious site. “The first question is whether the emblem should have been etched on the stone. What was the compulsion to have the emblem on the stone at Hazratbal Shrine? There was no need to put up a plaque. If work is good, people would recognise,” he told reporters, adding that the emblem should never have been used at a religious function.

Calling the plaque a “mistake,” Abdullah argued that religious places are not government institutions and therefore should not carry state emblems. He further urged the Waqf Board to apologise for “hurting public sentiments.”

Former Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti went a step further, terming the vandalism an act of “emotion” rather than a crime. “The people who vandalised after getting overcome with emotions are not against the emblem. It is not right to say they should be arrested under the Public Safety Act and called terrorists. This is blasphemy for us,” Mufti said.

She alleged that the real offence was committed by Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi, a BJP leader, who had the plaque installed with her name inscribed on it. “An FIR should be filed under section 295-A (blasphemy) against those who got the plaque installed, not against those who were hurt and acted out of anger,” she said, demanding Andrabi’s resignation.

Andrabi, however, condemned the defacement, calling it a “terrorist attack” and demanded strict punishment under the Public Safety Act. She maintained that the act insulted both the dignity of the shrine and the nation’s emblem.

The Hazratbal shrine, situated on the banks of Dal Lake, houses the Moi-e-Muqqadas, believed to be a hair from the Prophet’s beard. It is one of the holiest sites for Kashmiri Muslims and attracts massive gatherings during religious occasions.

Yet, instead of unequivocally condemning the attack on the Ashoka emblem, Kashmiri politicians have chosen to contextualise it. Both Abdullah and Mufti have directed their ire at the Waqf Board rather than the vandals themselves — effectively shifting the blame onto the BJP and attempting to turn the controversy into a question of faith versus politics.

This episode once again reveals how deep-rooted radicalism has seeped into Kashmir’s political discourse. In any civilised society, vandalism of a national emblem would have drawn immediate calls for strict punishment of the culprits. But in Kashmir, political leaders have chosen to rationalise and even justify the act, knowing that pandering to radicalised sections of the population ensures their political survival.

By shielding those who openly defaced a symbol of the Indian state, Kashmiri politicians have sent a troubling message: that acts of fundamentalism and vandalism can be tolerated, nay even encouraged, if cloaked in the language of religious sentiment. It highlights the enduring reality of Kashmir: Islamic fundamentalism is an indelible part of the Kashmiri society — aided, encouraged, and emboldened by the very politicians who claim to abide by the Indian Constitution.

New York mayoral race: Academicians, ex-civil servants, and diaspora leaders urge action against Zohran Mamdani for Hinduphobic lies in letters to S Jaishankar, Mira Nair

OpIndia Staff
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New York mayoral race: Academicians, ex-civil servants, and diaspora leaders urge action against Zohran Mamdani for Hinduphobic lies in letters to S Jaishankar, Mira Nair

The impending mayoral election in New York City has sparked an unusual diplomatic and cultural debate in India, with Hindu intellectuals, retired officers, professionals, and community leaders issuing open letters raising concerns over the candidacy of Zohran Mamdani for his Hinduphobic tendencies.

Two separate letters, one addressed to India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and another to filmmaker Mira Nair, Mamdani’s mother, have gained wide attention for their strong language and the list of signatories attached to them.

Concerns voiced to the Indian government

In a letter dated August 26, addressed to Dr. S. Jaishankar, the signatories urged India to take a firm stand against what they described as Mamdani’s “Hinduphobic lies” and defamatory remarks about PM Modi and India.

The letter accused Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and frontrunner in the New York mayoral race, of falsely claiming that there were no Muslims left in Gujarat and of labelling Prime Minister Modi a “war criminal.” Citing census data and Supreme Court judgments, the authors argued these assertions were baseless and harmful to India’s global image. 

The letter proposed specific measures for the Ministry of External Affairs, including Official condemnation of Mamdani’s remarks, a diplomatic protest to Washington, revocation of any Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status he may hold, denial of entry into India, and scrutiny of his alleged links to anti-India organisations.

An appeal to Mira Nair as mother and filmmaker

The second open letter, also dated August 26, took a different approach by appealing directly to Mira Nair. Addressing her as both a public figure and mother, the signatories urged her to counsel her son against making “offensive and factually incorrect” statements about India. 

The letter invited Nair to undertake a fact-finding trip to Gujarat, with expenses covered by the authors, to demonstrate to her son that millions of Muslims continue to reside in the state. It further reminded her of the Supreme Court’s clean chit to Narendra Modi in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots, as well as details of the Godhra train burning that triggered the violence.

The letter also criticised Mamdani’s past remarks about “globalising the Intifada,” calling them inflammatory and antisemitic.

Zohran Mamdani and his inflammatory rhetoric against Hindus and India

Mamdani is notorious for a consistent pattern of inflammatory statements directed at Hindus and India. At a public forum hosted by New York Focus in May 2025, Mamdani compared PM Modi to Israeli PM Netanyahu, calling him a “war criminal.” The remarks sparked outrage among Indo-American leaders, who accused him of promoting hate and deepening divides.

This was not an isolated incident. In 2020, Mamdani described Hindus aligned with Modi’s party as “fascists” and berated fellow New York politicians Jenifer Rajkumar and Kevin Thomas for not denouncing Modi. Rajkumar responded at the time by calling his comments “extreme and divisive.”

Invoking the 2002 Gujarat riots, Mamdani has repeatedly claimed that “there are no Gujarati Muslims anymore.” However, census data confirms nearly six million Muslims in Gujarat in 2011, a number that has only grown since. Courts in India, including the Supreme Court, have exonerated Modi of allegations relating to the riots, noting that the violence began after a Muslim mob set fire to a train carrying Hindu pilgrims in Godhra, killing 59.

Mamdani also opposed the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, appearing at a rally in 2020 where derogatory chants against Hindus were raised. His critics say this reflects a larger hostility toward Hindu identity.

His rhetoric has not been limited to India. Mamdani has frequently courted controversy for his anti-Israel positions, including refusing to sign resolutions condemning the Holocaust or commemorating Israel’s founding. Colleagues in the New York State Assembly have accused him of “unapologetic antisemitism.”

Community leaders argue that Mamdani’s rhetoric threatens the pluralistic ethos of New York. Jaspreet Singh, a Sikh community leader, remarked: “Instead of uniting the Indian community, he seeks to divide us by religion, pitting Muslims and Hindus against each other. Associating Hindus with fascism and using derogatory words against them is highly objectionable.”

Voices of the signatories

Several of the signatories of the open letters, who live in the United States, expanded on their concerns in personal statements. Hemant Patel cited Mamdani’s “unrealistic socialist agenda,” “distorted view of history,” and “dangerous public safety policies,” concluding he is “not suitable to serve as Mayor of New York City.”

Vibhuti Jha called him a “lose-lose-lose politician,” warning that “New York loses, US loses, India loses” if Mamdani gains power. Prof. Lakshmi Bandlamudi said he is “factually incorrect and ethically unsound” on India and Hinduism, adding that as a New Yorker, she cannot support his “extreme views” on policing.

Rahul Sur, IPS (Retd), UN (R), argued that Mamdani is “pretending to be someone other than who he really is,” citing “reckless, baseless and deliberate remarks.” While Deepti Mahajan urged Mira Nair to guide her son toward “fact-based dialogue,” stressing that his comparisons of Modi to a war criminal and calls to “globalise the Intifada” were “inaccurate and dangerous.”

Academics, former civil servants, and activists among signatories

Both letters were signed by more than 60 individuals across India and the diaspora, including academics, former civil servants, activists, and writers. Notable signatories include: Prachi Adhikari, Dr. Aditya Arya, Neeraj Atri, Prof. Lakshmi Bandlamudi, Gautam Bose, Sanjay Dixit, Prof. Bharat Gupt, Vibhuti Jha, Dr. Ajay Chrungoo, Lt. Col. Prabhat Kapoor (Retd), RVS Mani, I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, Hemant Patel, and Deepti Mahajan. The impressive roster of signatories feature two Bharat Bhushan awardees — Dr. Bharat Gupt and Dr. T. Hanuman Chowdary — alongside retired Chief Secretaries, senior officers from the Army, Navy, IFS, IAS, IPS, and UN, as well as noted academics and Dharmic theologians.

While the election of a U.S. mayor would typically be a domestic matter, the letters argue that Mamdani’s potential rise to a high-profile office in New York has international ramifications, given his outspoken criticism of India and its leadership. The signatories stress that their interventions are not interference in American politics, but rather a defence against what they see as “defamatory intrusions” into India’s sovereignty by a U.S. political figure.

(Full text of letters can be read here)

Whenever Pizza orders spike around Arlington, Virginia, people dread a US military action somewhere, read what is the Pentagon Pizza Index

Aditi
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Whenever Pizza orders spike around Arlington, Virginia, people dread a US military action somewhere, read what is the Pentagon Pizza Index

Over a week ago, a significant surge in pizza deliveries around the Pentagon, the US Defence Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C, led to social media speculations about something ‘big’ happening in the coming days. The increased activity in the pizza outlets near the Pentagon, which hinted at officials engaged in work for long hours, coincided with the rumours of the death of US President Donald Trump. This led ‘Trump is dead’ to trend on X, as people wondered if the rumours were really true.

On August 29, 2025, an X account named Pentagon Pizza Report, which monitors online pizza orders near government agencies like the Pentagon and CIA, reported a sudden spike in pizza orders from outlets like the Domino’s Pizza, Pizzato Pizza, and District Pizza Palace. A surge of 800% was reported in the pizza orders near the Pentagon; however, the reason for the sudden surge was not clear.

The hike in pizza orders at the outlets around the Pentagon and other US government offices continued on the following days, further piquing the curiosity of people.

The Pentagon Pizza Index and its origins

One might wonder what the connection is between the surge in late-night pizza deliveries in the US government offices and the speculations of something ‘major’ taking place. This is because of a viral theory called the Pentagon Pizza Index, which suggests that a sudden increase in late-night pizza orders near the US government offices could be an indicator of a national security crisis, military action or something else of similar scale.

In other words, an increased demand for food implies US government officials working long hours, which usually happens in case of a crisis or some other serious situation. While the connection between US government officials working late hours and the spike in pizza deliveries to the US government offices seems plausible, the theory lacks a scientific basis and has not always been true, as in the case of rumours of Trump’s death and the increased Pentagon Pizza Index. However, the theory still attracts the curiosity of people as it has been proven true on many other occasions.

The Pentagon Pizza Index theory originated during the period of the Cold War. During that time, the Soviet intelligence agents in Washington, DC kept a close watch on local pizza deliveries to the US military headquarters to estimate the preparedness of the US military. The pizza intelligence, which came to be referred to as ‘Pizzint’, helped in calculating activities within the US government offices by monitoring the number of food orders placed from the government buildings.

How pizzeria owners popularised the Pentagon Pizza Index Theory

This method of estimating or predicting the US military actions gained traction over time, with local pizzeria owners contributing to its popularity. One such pizzeria owner, named Frank Meeks, who owned 43 Domino’s franchises in Washington, D.C., played a key role in hyping the Pentagon Pizza Theory.

In 1991, Meeks reportedly gave an interview to the Los Angeles Times, in which he said that the media doesn’t always know when something big is going to happen, but pizza deliveries know. He recounted that 21 pizzas were delivered to the CIA headquarters on August 1, 1990, hours before the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. He also pointed out similar spikes in pizza deliveries to the Pentagon before the US invasion of Panama and the Grenada operation.

Surge in Pentagon Pizza orders before US military actions

As per reports, food orders from the Pentagon doubled the night preceding the Panama attack in 1989. A similar pattern is said to have been noted before the Grenada invasion of 1983. The Pentagon Pizza Index theory was also found to be true during the US invasion of Iraq, which uprooted the Saddam Hussein regime. The US officials, working late hours to plan the US response in Iraq, placed massive orders of pizzas.

The Pentagon Pizza Index also reportedly surged before the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq (1990), the Nato bombing of Serbia (1999), the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Nato intervention in Libya (2011). The most recent example of the Pentagon Pizza Index theory proving accurate was in June 2025, when the pizza deliveries to the Pentagon shot up hours before explosions were reported in Tehran, Iraq. In 1998, a surge 250% was reportedly registered in pizza deliveries to the White House during Operation Desert Fox and the impeachment of President Clinton. While the theory has been dismissed by the US government officials, the above-mentioned instances prove that the theory does not always miss the mark.

Like the Pentagon Pizza Index theory, there are several other similar theories, such as the Hemline Index, Lipstick Index, and the Men’s Underwear Index, which lack any scientific basis but continue to invoke the curiosity of people with their occasional accuracy.

From groceries to gadgets, check your savings after tax cut: Govt of India launches website to track benefits of GST reform

OpIndia Staff
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From groceries to gadgets, check your savings after tax cut: Govt of India launches website to track benefits of GST reform

The Government of India has rolled out a new website, savingswithgst.in, to help people see for themselves how much they can save after the recent GST reform. By adding daily essentials, household goods, electronics, kitchen and lifestyle items to a digital cart, users can now instantly compare the difference between the older VAT regime and the new “Next-Gen GST” rates.

The site, launched right after the announcement of the GST Council’s latest reforms, is being pitched as a tool to make tax savings more transparent and relatable for ordinary citizens. The interactive design lets people check revised prices across categories and highlights the money they save under the new structure.

Structure of revised GST 

The decision was taken in the 56th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council held on Wednesday, 3rd September.

In its 10-hour-long meeting chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the GST Council unanimously revised the existing four-tier tax structure of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% and removed the tax categories of 12% and 28%. 

This new system, effective from 22nd September, the first day of Navaratri, is expected to benefit the middle class the most. With lower indirect taxes, households will have more disposable income, boosting consumption and giving a push to domestic demand.

The government says the aim of the reform is simple: reduce tax burden on essential items, encourage spending, and make life easier for people.

Food items get cheaper

Food is one of the categories where the savings are most visible. Under the VAT system, common items like sugar, flour, oil, and spices carry additional charges. For instance, one kg of sugar, which costs ₹68.9 under VAT, now comes down slightly to ₹68.25 under GST. Flour, which earlier sold for ₹51.75, is now pegged at exactly ₹50, with zero tax.

The biggest relief is on items like groundnut oil and spices. A litre of groundnut oil earlier cost ₹360.4, but the GST price is ₹357. In the same way, cost of 100 grams of spices, was ₹84.8 under VAT, now cost ₹84.

Screengrab via savingswithgst.in

It may seem like small changes in price on individual items, but when calculated across an average family’s monthly groceries, the savings add up to a decent amount. For example, the total tax under VAT on this food basket was ₹30.85, while under GST it comes down to ₹24.25, leading to savings of ₹6.6.

Household items bring bigger savings

The relief grows bigger when it comes to household products. A cotton mattress, which was of cost ₹1,536 under VAT, now costs ₹1,416 under GST. A tube of toothpaste, which previously sold at ₹38.1, has fallen to ₹31.5.

Daily-use items like detergent also show visible differences. A litre of detergent that cost ₹281.6 under VAT now comes at ₹259.6. Even bamboo furniture, which cost ₹1,230 previously, has come down to ₹1,050 under GST.

Screengrab via savingswithgst.in

Together, for the basket of household items, the VAT tax was ₹635.7. With the new GST tax rates, it reduces to ₹307.1, so buyers save approximately ₹328.6.

Electronics see major cuts

Electronics, often hit by high indirect taxes, are one of the biggest gainers under the GST reform. A semi-automatic washing machine, priced at ₹10,504 under VAT, will now sell at ₹9,440. Similarly, a 32-inch television that earlier cost ₹9,847.5 has come down to ₹8,850.

Screengrab via savingswithgst.in

Air conditioners, one of the most heavily taxed items in the past, show the sharpest reduction. A one-ton, three-star AC that cost ₹43,329 under VAT is now priced at ₹38,940 under GST.

The savings here are significant. The total tax on these products under VAT was ₹15,180.5, while under GST, it stands at ₹8,730,  giving customers a decent saving of ₹6,450.5.

Lifestyle products lighten the load

Lifestyle goods, too, become more pocket-friendly under the new tax structure. Perfumes that sold for ₹640 under VAT are now priced at ₹590. Footwear above ₹2,500, which earlier cost ₹3,025, has now dropped to ₹2,625.

Even daily-use items like face wash and soaps show changes, moving from ₹254 under VAT to ₹210 under GST.

Screengrab via savingswithgst.in

Here, the VAT tax came to ₹719, but under the revised GST, it is just ₹225. The total savings in this category stand at ₹494.

A transparent initiative for middle class

By making the differences visible through savingswithgst.in,  the government is hoping to connect directly with consumers. The interactive platform not only shows revised prices but also builds confidence that the new GST system is designed to help ordinary people.

With food, household goods, electronics, kitchen and  lifestyle products all becoming cheaper, the reform looks set to ease pressure on families. Experts say this move could also give a big push to retail sales during the upcoming festive season.

The Crypto President: How Donald Trump is using his office to enrich his family, has added $5 billion to his wealth after WLFI crypto launch

Shriti Sagar
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The Crypto President: How Donald Trump is using his office to enrich his family, has added $5 billion to his wealth after WLFI crypto launch

The Trump family has scored one of their biggest financial wins on paper in the world of cryptocurrency. On Monday, 1st September, their flagship crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, launched a new digital currency called WLFI, and the debut was nothing short of explosive. 

Within hours of trading, the token had already created paper wealth worth as much as $5 billion for the president’s family.

The launch worked almost like a traditional IPO (Initial Public Offering). Until now, people who bought WLFI privately had no way of trading their tokens. Monday’s launch changed that, allowing WLFI to be bought and sold freely on major crypto exchanges.

The Trumps collectively own just under a quarter of all WLFI tokens, instantly making it their single most valuable asset, even bigger than the family’s decades-old real estate empire. President Donald Trump himself is listed as a “Co-Founder Emeritus” of World Liberty, while his three sons are co-founders and active faces of the venture.

Even though the founders’ tokens are “locked”, meaning they cannot sell them yet, the public debut gave the market a clear valuation of their holdings. At its peak price of around 30 cents, the Trump family’s WLFI stake was valued at more than $6 billion.

Crypto over real estate

For decades, Trump’s name was synonymous with luxury hotels, golf courses, and towering real estate. But with WLFI, crypto has now become the crown jewel of his portfolio. 

The Trump family helped launch World Liberty Financial last year during the height of the 2024 presidential campaign. While campaigning, Trump called it a part of his mission to “make America great again, this time with crypto.”

A corporate entity owned by the Trump family controls a 60% stake in the company, according to the firm’s website, where Trump was once listed as the firm’s “Chief Crypto Advocate.” 

The launch captured attention worldwide, with trading on exchanges like Binance surging to nearly $1 billion in tokens within the first hour. Prices eventually slipped from their high, settling around 20 cents. But even at that level, the Trump family’s stake still represented billions of dollars on paper.

Other Trump-linked digital assets are also contributing to this windfall. The family controls around 80% of $Trump, a memecoin that has itself been worth several billion dollars. On top of that, Trump Media, which owns Truth Social and has significant crypto holdings, is valued at around $2.5 billion.

Together, this network of tokens and companies positions the Trumps as one of the most powerful families in the global crypto industry.

A profitable side deal

The launch of WLFI was made possible through a creative financial maneuver. Earlier this year, World Liberty took over a publicly listed company and raised $750 million in cash from investors. That money was then used to buy the WLFI tokens.

Critics called the transaction “circular,” since World Liberty effectively sold tokens to itself with investor money. But the structure ensures that the Trump family gets to keep up to three-quarters of the revenues from the token sale, which could bring them as much as $500 million in profits.

For early investors, the launch was also highly lucrative. Those who bought WLFI at just 1.5 cents a token last year are now sitting on massive gains, even if the price has fallen from its opening highs.

The risks of paper wealth

Despite the soaring valuations, actually converting this wealth into cash may be difficult. Crypto currencies are notoriously volatile, and even small amounts of selling can cause prices to drop sharply.

The Trump family’s fortune in crypto is highly dependent on market sentiment. For instance, their memecoin $Trump soared when it launched in January but later collapsed. WLFI could follow a similar pattern, depending on how much interest and liquidity remain in the months ahead.

Still, for now, the launch represents one of the biggest financial victories for the family since Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Trump’s policies helped pave the way

The success of Trump’s crypto empire isn’t just about timing or branding. It’s also tied closely to legislation and policy decisions that he himself has pushed from the White House.

On 7th August, 2025, Trump signed an executive order that could funnel trillions of dollars from American retirement accounts into cryptocurrencies and other alternative assets. The order allows fund managers to include crypto, private equity, and even real estate investments in 401(k) retirement plans, something that wasn’t previously allowed.

This opens the door to a $12 trillion market of retirement funds, giving a massive potential boost to crypto projects like WLFI. For Trump, who is now both a policymaker and a crypto entrepreneur, the move could significantly enrich his own ventures.

“Crypto capital of the world”

Trump framed the order as a way to cut back regulations and encourage innovation. Once a skeptic who dismissed Bitcoin as “a scam,” he has now become one of the strongest champions of digital currency.

“This will make America the crypto capital of the world,” Trump declared when signing the order, arguing that it would help ordinary workers get better returns on their retirement investments.

The order also directs the Labor Secretary to work with the Treasury, the SEC, and other regulators to adjust rules in favor of these new assets. In short, the entire system is being nudged to accommodate crypto investments.

Concerns over risk

Not everyone is convinced this is a good idea. Critics say putting volatile and speculative assets like cryptocurrencies into retirement accounts could be dangerous. Retirement savings are usually invested in safer, more stable options like stocks and bonds. By comparison, crypto is prone to sudden crashes, fraud, and manipulation.

“Opening up the $9 trillion 401(k) industry to alternative assets is reasonable,” said Anil Khurana of Georgetown University, “but if these assets are highly speculative and underregulated, it could be a big mistake.”

Analysts also warn that the order could lead to lawsuits from retirees who don’t fully understand the risks. Plaintiffs’ lawyers are already preparing to challenge fund managers who might steer workers’ savings into complex investments like WLFI.

A win for big finance and Trump

Despite these concerns, the order is being celebrated by the financial industry. Firms like BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, had lobbied for such a move and are already preparing to launch new funds that include crypto and private equity.

For the Trump family, the timing couldn’t be better. With WLFI now trading publicly and valued in the billions, any surge in retirement fund investments could directly boost demand for the coin, and by extension, the family’s fortune.

A new chapter in Trump’s fortune

The debut of WLFI marks a turning point in Trump’s financial empire. What began as a real estate dynasty is now firmly entrenched in the volatile but booming world of crypto.

Whether this wealth lasts or evaporates depends on how long WLFI and related tokens can hold investor interest. But one thing is clear: Trump has successfully leveraged both his political power and his business acumen to transform his family into crypto billionaires.

By pairing high-profile launches with favorable policies like the new 401(k) executive order, Trump is not just participating in the crypto market, he’s shaping it.

Trump looking for a way out after his anti-India stance? How SCO camaraderie, PM Modi-EU talks, and dissent from within the USA may be spooking the orange man

Raju Das
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Trump looking for a way out after his anti-India stance? How SCO camaraderie, PM Modi-EU talks, and dissent from within the USA may be spooking the orange man

In a surprising shift, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to have softened his aggressive stance toward India. While talking to the media on 6th September, he reaffirmed a “very special relationship” with India and described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great Prime Minister” with whom he will “always be friends.”  He also claimed that there was no serious strain between India and the United States.

Responding to a question on whether he was ready to reset relations with India, Trump said, “I always will. I’ll always be friends with (PM) Modi. He’s a great Prime Minister.” However, he added that he remains unhappy with the Modi government for its decisions, as he said, “I’ll always be friends, but I just don’t like what he is doing at this particular moment.”

Trump added, “I have been disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia. And I let them know that, I put a very high tariff – 50% on India. I get along very well with (Indian PM) Modi as you know.”

Responding to the comments, PM Modi broke his silence over President Trump’s anti-India remarks, as he posted on X saying, “Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of our ties. India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership.”

Trump’s latest comments mark a significant departure from months of escalating tensions characterised by punitive tariffs, inflammatory rhetoric, and public spats over India’s purchase of Russian oil. Donald Trump has imposed 50% tariff on Indian exports to US, called Indian economy a dead economy, and lamented that his country has lost India to China. His aides like Peter Navarro and Howard Lutnick are continuously making inflammatory remarks against India on a daily basis.

Although not said publicly, it is also public knowledge that Trump is unhappy with Indian govt for not saying that he brokered India’s ceasefire with Pakistan, and for not nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Several other countries, including Israel, have nominated him due to his overtly public ambition for the prize.

The question is, why the sudden apparent climbdown. A closer look at the current situation in the USA suggests that Trump’s change is due to mounting domestic pressures, not sudden realisation that India is America’s friend. Signs of economic slowdown, a dismal job market, media backlash, and a plummeting approval rating may have been the reason why Trump will attempt to mend ties with Modi.

Economic Slowdown and Dismal Job Report

Donald Trump had promised to bring the U.S. economy to new heights. He continues to claim that it is doing excellently well, citing ‘billions of dollars’ collected in tariffs, but the fact is that the American economy is showing signs of strain. Recent data paints a grim picture- inflation remains high, with consumer prices rising faster than wages for many Americans. The cost of essentials like fuel, groceries, and housing have affected the pockets of Americans badly, eroding confidence in Trump’s economic leadership.

A research report has said that there is 93% probability of American economy hitting recession.

Compounding Trump’s economic woes is a recent job report that has sent shockwaves through Washington. Unemployment figures have ticked upward, with job growth stalling in key sectors like manufacturing and technology. The report underscores a broader trend, the U.S. labour market is struggling, and Trump’s policies have done little to reverse the trend.

After the July job report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed only 73,000 new jobs were added in that month, President fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, accusing her of manipulating numbers to make him look bad. The August report shows just 22,000 jobs added, and revises June report to negative growth.

This has fuelled domestic discontent against the administration. American workers, already grappling with stagnant wages and rising costs, are growing frustrated with policies that are harming the economy instead.

His tariffs, meant to boost American jobs by increasing manufacturing activities in the country, have instead strained industries dependent on global supply chains. In the initial weeks, impact of the tariffs was not reflected much on retail prices as importers had already stocked up before the new tariffs become applicable. Some importers also absorbed the higher import duties after that for some time. But that is not a sustainable solution, and retail prices are set to rise in American stores, as even the countries that signed trade deals with the U.S. have been hit with 10-20% tariff. This will increase inflation and alienate U.S. businesses reliant on imports.

The tariffs have also disrupted global trade dynamics, and countries are looking at setting up new trade alliances. As a result, the US dollar is losing relevance in the global economy. The BRICS countries in particular are trading more in their own currencies replacing the dollar. Trump specifically threatened BRICS against launching its own currency. While that is not happening for now, the BRICS members are using currencies like Yuan, Ruble and Rupee etc for trade among themselves.

Moreover, central banks across the world, including India’s RBI, are dumping the US dollar and instead buying gold and silver as their reserves, as values of these precious metals don’t depend on whimsical decisions of one person. While the dollar remains strong and top instrument of reserve, worries over inflation, deteriorating U.S. fiscal health, and geopolitical instability are raising questions about its stability in the long run.

With the U.S. facing potential recession risks, as warnedv by Moody’s Chief Economist, Trump’s aggressive trade policies are increasingly seen as counterproductive, prompting a recalibration to avoid further economic fallout.

India’s defiance

President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a staggering 50% tariff on Indian goods, including a 25% penalty for India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, was intended to pressure New Delhi into aligning with U.S. interests, particularly on Ukraine. However, the move has backfired. India has not only refused to halt Russian oil imports but has reiterated on its strategic autonomy. Even yesterday finance minister Nirmala Sitharama said that India will continue to buy Russian Oil.

Modi govt has also aggressively improved ties with China, as seen at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. The country’s ties with Russia remains strong, with no sign of stopping purchase of Russian oil and defence equipment. In fact, there are talks that India may buy the Russian Su-57 fighter jet, ignoring Trump’s offer to sale America’s F-35 jet.

This defiance by India has exposed the limits of Trump’s strategy to use tariff and trade deals as tools to force countries to accept his demands. While this strategy may have worked for other countries including the EU, this has clearly not worked for India.

Apart from Trump and his ardent supporters, the hypocrisy of selectively punishing only India for buying Russian oil is visible to the entire world. U.S. itself continues to buy various items from Russia, European countries continue to buy Russian oil and gas, and no punitive tariff has been imposed on China for buying the same Russian oil.

SCO Summit and revival of RIC Troika

The most significant global event to take place after Trump’s tariff assault was the SCO summit in Tianjin in China. While India has been a member of this Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, it was not seen as important for the country as BRICS of G20. Generally, India’s foreign ministers attended its summit, which has been considered to have more of a central Asian focus.

However, everything changed last month, as Prime Minister Modi decided to visit China after 7 years to attend the summit. The visuals of Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin laughing and chatting together have become a global talking point.

The message from SCO summit was clear, the world is no longer US-centric, and alternative power centre is emerging. India, China, and Russia have made it clear that the US no longer calls the shots, and other countries will take their own decisions. Trump thought the economy of India will collapse under the burden of 50% tariff by USA, but that is not happening. India has made it clear that it is ready to shift its trade to other countries if US continues to blackmail.

Some major plans were discussed at the SCO summit, including the creation of a new SCO development bank, which will directly compete with western organisations like IMF and World Bank. Xi Jinping announced 2 billion RMB ($280m) in grants, along with another 10 billion RMB ($1.4bn) in loans for SCO members.

To improve ties with China, a traditional enemy of India, is a big step taken by the Modi govt to defy Trump. At the summit, there were talks of a new world order comprising the Global South, in a direct challenge to the United States.

Importantly, Russia has proposed to revive the old RIC (Russia India China) Troika. The RIC was envisioned as a strategic counterweight to US dominance after the end of the cold war. While China welcomes the proposal, India remains non-committal. But these developments have made it clear, India will move away from U.S., instead of capitulating, as Trump was expecting, if the bullying continues.

The RIC Troika may be revived or not, but one thing is clear, world has become multipolar, with Trump’s tariffs pushing countries with diverse interests to come together. Trump has given even traditional rivals like India and China reasons to come together against his own country. While India-China has started to revive around a year ago, the tariffs came as a big boost, giving the countries an immediate cause to form an alliance.

The SCO summit and the Modi-Xi-Putin meeting showed that it can emerge as a strong alternative to the American power. India, China and Russia hold the biggest potential for real economic shifts in the world, with the ability to offer the world an ability to withstand threats from Trump to impose financial penalties for defying the US.

Notably, apart from SCO, India, Russia and China are also members of the BRICS, and both these groups are now parallelly emerging as alternative power centre. While SCO is a Eurasian group, BRICS members are from various continents. But with common members of India, China and Russia, both groups can compete with the US-led Western powers.

India-EU ties

Another development that may be behind Trump’s climbdown is European Union nudging closer to India. While Trump has condemned India’s close ties with China and Russia displayed at the SCO summit, EU has no such opposition, and they are pushing towards improving India-EU relations.

On Wednesday, held a joint telephone call with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. The leaders welcomed progress in bilateral relations in key sectors such as trade, technology, investment, innovation, sustainability, defence, security and supply chain resilience, and reaffirmed the shared commitment for an early conclusion of the India-EU FTA negotiations and implementation of the IMEEC corridor.

Significantly, Ursula von der Leyen has said that India has an important role to play in ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. She posted on X, “We warmly welcome India’s continued engagement with President Zelenskyy. India has an important role to play in bringing Russia to end its war of aggression and helping create a path towards peace. This war carries global security consequences and undermines economic stability. So it is a risk to the entire world.”

She also said that India and EU plan to agree on a joint strategic agenda at the next EU–India summit, as early as possible in 2026. She added that they also remain fully committed to concluding the Free Trade Agreement negotiations by the end of the year.

Media Backlash

Trump’s attacks on India, including calling its economy “dead” and accusing Modi of “profiteering from chaos,” drew sharp criticism from both U.S. and Indian media. Analysts pointed out how a once-robust U.S.-India relationship is collapsing with Trump’s relentless attack on the country. Donald Trump and his tariff bravado has been subjects of memes and jokes in American late-night shows.

The Left-wing media in the U.S., always anti-Trump, are having the most fun dissecting his decisions and fact-checking his false and misleading claims, which he does on almost a daily basis. Even the right-wing media outlets are struggling to defend the policies, and are reporting how the tariffs are hitting U.S. consumers and businesses hard.

In India, where Trump was seen as a friend till a couple of months ago, the backlash has been even more pronounced. A giant Trump effigy was paraded in Maharashtra with placards branding him a “backstabber.” Such public humiliation, particularly for a person who thrives on a strongman image, has underscored the diplomatic cost of Trump’s rhetoric.

The media scrutiny has amplified perceptions of Trump’s foreign policy as erratic and divisive. His claim of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, vehemently denied by New Delhi, further strained ties and painted him as out of touch with geopolitical realities.

Plummeting Approval Ratings

Perhaps the most pressing driver of Trump’s climbdown is his declining approval rating, with voters expressing frustration over rising costs and a lack of clear wins on the global stage. The latest numbers show that his approval rating is negative at -14%. Once buoyed by his supporters’ enthusiasm for his “America First” agenda, Trump now faces growing scepticism as economic challenges mount and foreign policy missteps pile up.

In contrast, Narendra Modi remains one of the world’s most popular leaders, with approval ratings exceeding 75%, according to Morning Consult.

Trump’s hostility toward India risked alienating not only a key ally but also the Indian-American community, a growing demographic in U.S. politics. While his stand on illegal immigrants was supported by India, now he and his aides have started to oppose visas granted to Indians, further eroding his support among Indian Americans, and other legal immigrants.

A Pragmatic Climbdown

Beyond domestic pressures, Trump’s apparent climbdown reflects a recognition of geopolitical realities. India’s refusal to bow to U.S. pressure on Russian oil purchases shows the tariff threat is not working. Trump’s tariff escalation was meant to punish India for its ties with Moscow, but it has instead pushed New Delhi closer to Beijing. This shift threatens U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific, where India is a critical counterweight to China.

With media increasingly questioning his ability to manage alliances, Trump’s reaffirmation of friendship with Modi is a calculated move to quiet critics and restore an image of diplomatic competence. By emphasising a “special relationship” with India, he seeks to shift the narrative away from confrontation and toward cooperation, even if the underlying tensions remain unresolved.

Trump’s softened stance is also be a tacit acknowledgment that his “America First” approach has limits in a multipolar world. By dialling back his criticism, Trump clearly aims to avoid completely alienating India. It is an attempt to stabilize ties with a key economic partner and mitigate further damage to U.S. industries reliant on bilateral trade.

By softening his rhetoric, Trump hopes to signal flexibility, potentially paving the way for renewed trade negotiations that could ease economic pressures at home.

Therefore, Trump’s climbdown from his anti-India rhetoric is a pragmatic response to a mixture of domestic and international pressures. A struggling U.S. economy, a faltering job market, relentless media criticism, and declining approval ratings have forced him to reconsider his approach to a key ally.

Tensions and uncertainties remain

While his reaffirmation of a “special relationship” with India and friendship with Modi signals a desire to stabilize ties, it does not erase the underlying tensions between India and the U.S. over trade, Russian oil, and differing geopolitical priorities. The 50% tariff on India’s exports to U.S. remains, the threats of even more tariffs if India does not stop buying from Russia have not been withdrawn. The bilateral trade deal remains stalled. Trump’s aides continue to make bizarre allegations against India, including that Brahmins are benefiting from Russian oil.

Moreover, with Trump, nothing is reliable. His stand keeps changing, he keeps making new announcements on social media. Therefore, despite good words for Modi, he may go ahead and impose more tariffs and sanctions on India.

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