'Better recalcitrant than tractable': Shashi Tharoor on US Treasury Secretary's remark on India

Responding through a post on X, Tharoor said, "I hear some people are accusing India of being 'recalcitrant'. I say, far better to be recalcitrant, than to be tractable, submissive or acquiescent in injustice."

Speaking to Fox Business on Tuesday, Bessent responded to a question on wrapping up all the tariffs and trade deals by the end of October.

"But I think we are in a good position. The big trade deals that aren't done or aren't agreed - Switzerland is still around, India has been a bit recalcitrant," he said.

The US Treasury Secretary admitted that although the deadline to close trade deals was "aspirational", the teams led by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer have been working to finalise the deals.

He also said that they have agreed on substantial terms with all the substantial countries.

On Wednesday, Bessent warned of yet another round of secondary tariffs on India over its Russian oil purchases — a move that reeks of Trump’s habit of shifting blame for his own diplomatic failures, media reports said.

Washington has accused New Delhi of “fuelling” Russia’s war machine by buying discounted crude. This escalation comes as Trump heads to Alaska to meet Russia’s Vladimir Putin, aiming to strike a deal to “stop” the Ukraine war.

Speaking to Bloomberg TV on Wednesday, Bessent confirmed Washington has already slapped secondary tariffs on India for sourcing Russian oil — and hinted at more if Trump’s talks with Moscow don’t produce results.

“We’ve put secondary tariffs on Indians for buying Russian oil. And I could see, if things don’t go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up,” he said.

The warning underscores worsening India–US ties and Trump’s effort to turn India into a convenient scapegoat, despite New Delhi’s repeated assertion of its right to secure its people’s welfare and economic stability.