Trump Promises India Will Stop Buying Russian Oil (When America Says So)
Trump's declaration, made at a rally (because that's where foreign policy is crafted now), posits that India's energy decisions hinge solely on American approval. This narrative ignores India's long-standing foreign policy of strategic autonomy and its pressing energy needs, which drove it to dramatically increase Russian oil imports by nearly 800% after Western sanctions in 2022. It's not about
what Trump says; it's about what provides the cheapest crude for a rapidly industrializing nation of 1.4 billion people. The implication, of course, is that America dictates global energy markets, a fantasy even OPEC struggles to maintain. One might wonder if this confidence stems from a misplaced belief in American exceptionalism or simply forgetting that countries prioritize local economies over
Washington's geopolitical whims. Or perhaps, it's just another reminder that for some, the world is merely a collection of vassals waiting for instructions from the grand patriarch.