New Delhi, Aug 8 (UNI) Erik Solheim, former Norwegian Minister and Diplomat, has slammed US President Donald Trump for Tariffs against India and asked why does Trump work so hard to destroy the India-US relationship?
‘’Why does Trump work so hard to destroy the India-US relationship? The US and India are connected by many ties, not least people to people contact. When Trump was elected he was more popular in India than in the US. Most Indians believed the relationship would go into an all time romance,’’ Erik Solheim said on X.
He said it is hard to explain why Trump works so hard to downgrade the relationship.
‘’We are at a pivotal time in global geopolitics. All nations need to understand the message: To Trump loyalty and old bonds mean nothing,’’ he said.
Solheim cited instances like claiming credit for the India – Pakistan ceasefire for himself, rather than showing respect to India as a proud nation with its own agency, and inviting Pakistan army chief Munir for a two hour lunch in The White House. ‘’I doubt any American President has ever invited an army chief and not the Prime Minister of a foreign country.’’
He also castigated the US President’s statement describing the Indian economy as ‘’dead’’ and said India is the fastest growing major economy in the world.
He also questioned trump’s move to put a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods because India doesn’t open its market to American agricultural products.
‘’How can he expect Prime Minister Modi to throw Indian smallholders under the bus to competition with US agrobusiness?’’ Solheim asked.
Adding another 25 percent tariffs because India acts as 85 percent of humanity, calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine but not sanctions against Russia.
