US 'Pressure' on India: Code for 'Do What We Say'
When the BBC covers Trump repeating his claim that India will cut Russian oil imports, the framing suggests a diplomatic negotiation. Yet, 'The US has put pressure on India to reduce its energy purchases from Russia' (BBC World, Oct 2024) is a euphemism. It’s not about market forces; it's about Washington flexing its economic might to dictate another country's foreign policy—a move rarely
reciprocated by the 'rules-based international order' advocates. Remember when the US respected other nations' energy decisions? Neither do we. This isn't about human rights or democracy; it's about weakening a geopolitical rival. The same 'pressure' isn't applied to Saudi Arabia's oil production or its human rights record, for instance. One might wonder if similar 'encouragement' could be applied
to US allies buying weapons that perpetuate humanitarian crises. But then, who would fund the think tanks that justify these selective interventions?