'Great nations don't exhibit greatness by giving ultimatums': Ex-US diplomat opposes Trump over strained ties with India

Kerry told ET World Leaders Forum, "We are concerned. This struggle between President Trump and PM Modi is unfortunate.

"Great nations don't necessarily exhibit greatness by giving people ultimatums all the time without sort of a genuine diplomatic effort to try to find common ground and do things through the normal course of business."

"My hope is that we will resolve this dispute. I think India has made a pretty powerful offering frankly," the former US Secretary of State, who worked under President Barack Obama, added.

His words came days after former US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, warned President Trump that losing ties with India would be a "strategic disaster" in the face of China's dominance in Asia and its global ambition, media reports said.

In a Newsweek op-ed, Haley said the US-India relationship is at a breaking point and it should immediately be brought "back on track".

Haley said the Trump administration should not let the tariff war, disputes over Russian oil and India-Pakistan truce drive should not drive a wedge between Washington and New Delhi.

The Trump administration, which was earlier viewed as India-friendly, has slapped a 25 percent tariff on the South Asian country for its high tariffs on American exports and another 25 percent for purchasing oil from Russia which is fighting a war against Ukraine.

The White House, which has singled out India over Russian oil purchase, said the second 25 percent tariff will be effective from August 27, 2025.

Modi says 'no compromise'

On the occasion of his country's 79th Independence Day celebrations, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 reiterated his opposition to any policy that will affect the interests of farmers, fisherfolk and livestock rearers, amid the tariff war.

Modi said, "I will stand like a wall against any policy that is detrimental to the interests of farmers, fisherfolk and livestock rearers."

"India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, livestock rearers, and fisherfolk," the Prime Minister, who was delivering the address from Red Fort, added.

'Perplexed by US stance': Jaishankar counters Trump’s criticism on Russian oil

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday dismissed the notion that India is the largest importer of Russian oil, stressing that China and the European Union surpass India in buying Russian oil and LNG.

His remarks came in Moscow during a bilateral meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, amid mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump to cut India’s Russian oil purchases.

Jaishankar said, "We are not the biggest purchasers of Russian oil, that is China. We are not the biggest purchasers of LNG, that is the European Union. We are not the country which has the biggest trade surge with Russia after 2022; I think there are some countries to the South."

The minister expressed surprise at the US position, pointing out that India had increased its oil imports from America itself.

"We are a country where the Americans have said for the last few years that we should do everything to stabilise the world energy market, including buying oil from Russia. Incidentally, we also buy oil from the US, and that amount has increased. So honestly, we are very perplexed at the logic of the argument that you had referred to," he said.