Putin Warns US Against Strong-Arming India, China With Tariffs

• By Thetripurapost Web Desk, Moscow
• Sep 05, 2025
• 688

Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned Washington against attempting to pressure India and China through tariffs and sanctions, warning that such tactics are no longer acceptable in a “post-colonial” world.

Speaking to the media after attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and a military parade in Beijing, Putin said: “You cannot talk to India or China in that way. The colonial era is now over. They have to realise they can’t use these terms in speaking with partners.”

Putin accused the Trump administration of weaponising economic pressure to undermine two of Asia’s biggest powers. He revealed that he had briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his recent Alaska summit with Donald Trump during a one-hour drive with the Indian leader.

The Russian President described US tariffs as an attempt to weaken the global leadership roles of India and China. He underlined that both nations, with their large populations and strong domestic systems, could not be coerced into compliance.

“When somebody tells you they are going to punish you, you have to think — how can the leadership of those big countries react?” Putin asked, stressing that historical experiences of colonialism and lost sovereignty continue to shape their political instincts.

While acknowledging current tensions, he expressed optimism that relations would stabilise: “Ultimately, things will be sorted out, everything will take its place, and we will see normal political dialogue again.”

Meanwhile, Moscow is boosting fertiliser supplies to India this year and both nations plan to sign an agreement on Arctic cooperation in 2026.