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Brussels: US President Donald Trump (Trump ) ‘s desire for the Nobel Prize has become so uncontrollable that he is willing to do anything to achieve it. NATO Chief Mark Rutte’s characterization of the recent phone and face-to-face talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the Ukraine war as a result of US tariff pressure appears to be a result of this effort.
The NATO chief said in a statement that Trump’s tariffs against India buying oil from Russia are having a significant impact on Moscow. Therefore, telephone talks between Delhi and Putin are ongoing regarding peace in the Ukraine war. However, India has dismissed the NATO chief’s claim as baseless, misleading, and false.
How much significance does the NATO chief’s statement hold?
This statement by the NATO chief is being interpreted in several ways. One is that Trump is attempting to justify the tariffs imposed on India so that Trump can spread false propaganda to the world that he was right in imposing tariffs on India. Therefore, Putin was forced to stop the war, and India put pressure on Russia.
What does Trump want?
Secondly, PM Narendra Modi is considered a supporter of peace worldwide. He has emerged as a highly respected leader in the modern world. His words are taken seriously and respected by heads of state across the world. Given the traditional friendship between India and Russia, as well as the deep, friendly relationship between PM Modi and Putin, Trump fears that Prime Minister Narendra Modi might get the credit for ending the Ukraine war, and Trump might be denied the Nobel Prize.
If PM Modi succeeds in bringing about a ceasefire in Ukraine, his global standing will increase further. This would not be acceptable to the US and Trump. Therefore, he may be coercing the NATO chief to make such a statement. To mislead people by claiming that PM Modi increased pressure on Putin to stop the Ukraine war after the US imposed heavy tariffs on India. The truth is that PM Modi has been advocating for both countries to come to the negotiating table for peace in the Ukraine war since the beginning.
What did the NATO chief say?
Mark Rutte said that the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on India for buying oil from Russia are having a “deep impact” on Moscow. Rutte also claimed that ever since Trump announced the tariffs on Indian goods, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been asking Russian President Vladimir Putin to “explain” his strategy on Ukraine. “This (tariff) has an immediate impact on Russia, because it means that Delhi is now on the phone with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and Narendra Modi is asking him, ‘I support you, but can you explain your strategy to me…because I am now hurt by the 50% tariff imposed by the United States.'”
India gives strong response
India on Friday completely rejected the claim made by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that India asked Russia to explain its strategy on the Ukraine war due to pressure from US-imposed tariffs. In an official statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs said that no such conversation took place and such a claim is “beyond facts and completely baseless.” The Ministry of External Affairs said that the NATO chief should exercise caution before making such comments in the future.
When did PM Modi and Putin speak on the phone?
Prime Minister Modi and Putin last spoke on the phone on September 17. Putin called PM Modi to congratulate him on his 75th birthday. According to PM Modi’s office, he reiterated India’s full support for a “peaceful resolution” of the Ukraine conflict, which began in February 2022. Earlier, on September 1st in China, the two leaders traveled in the same vehicle for about an hour, arriving at the venue for a bilateral meeting after the SCO summit. During this time, PM Modi also discussed the Ukraine ceasefire with Putin.
Trump tells NATO to impose tariffs on China
Donald Trump said that NATO countries should impose 50 to 100 percent tariffs on China and stop buying oil from Russia to end the Ukraine war. On September 13th, Trump stated on Truth Social that he was ready to impose “severe sanctions” on Russia when all NATO countries agree and stop buying oil from Russia. He said, “NATO’s commitment to victory has been less than 100%, and it is shocking that some countries are buying oil from Russia!” “It greatly weakens your negotiating and bargaining position with Russia,” he said.
