Political economist and former British Consulate General New York Economic Policy head Edward Price has strongly condemned White House Senior Advisor Peter Navarro's recent statements on India, terming them as "shame."
Interacting with IANS, Price contended that Navarro's effort to "instruct" India was misplaced and reflective of a lack of understanding of diplomacy.
“It is also historically illiterate. India has always gone its own way, culturally, politically and otherwise. It is a unique country with a unique statecraft. We shouldn't be telling India what to do. We should be making it a fair and friendly offer,” he added.
Navarro, on Monday, had taken aim at India’s foreign policy, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagements with Russian and Chinese leaders during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and declaring that “India needs to be with us, not Russia.”
Currently serving as an Adjunct Instructor at New York University, Price stressed that the real issue lies within Washington itself.
“The administration doesn't know whether its own views on India are its own views. There is no coherence in the White House. Wherever there are glimmers of an American grand strategy, for example, reducing trade exposure to China, Trump offers up immediate contradictions,” he noted.
On Western views that India is moving closer to Russia and China as a response to US pressure, Price rebutted that India's policy is strategic and not reflexive.
“Indian statecraft is smart, and Indians do not typically reduce their options on the global stage. Instead, India is reminding the Americans that they do indeed have options and India is a rising and sovereign country. Soon enough, India will be a Great Power. Washington D.C. is not the only story and India does not make decisions solely on the basis of American foreign policy,” he explained.
that they in fact have options and India is an emerging and independent nation. Soon enough, India will be a Great Power. Washington D.C. is not the exclusive story and India does not base decisions exclusively upon American foreign policy."
In the meantime, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday again called relations with India a "one-sided relationship."
Price believed that Trump’s repeated complaints about India are “ill-judged and ill-timed.”
“Honestly, I wish the White House had some imagination. The US cannot expect to insult India, with a 50% tariff, and then have Indian leaders come scuttling to the White House to ask for instructions. That's not how the world works.”
“India will do India, which is smart. Trump will do Trump, which ain't,” he concluded.
Read also| As US Oil Prices Surge, Russia Extends Larger Discounts to India: Report
Read also| US Supreme Court to Hear Trump’s Tariffs Case, Extending Trade Uncertainty
