New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI): Amid ongoing talks with america over a commerce deal, retired US Military Colonel and defence professional Douglas MacGregor said on Saturday that India is not going to all the time agree with Washington, as no nation would ‘transfer past the boundaries of its personal pursuits.’
In an interview with ANI, Retired Colonel MacGregor criticised US President Donald Trump for scaring off relationships with a nation for doing enterprise with Russia, calling it ‘silly mentality.’
Trump has levied a 50 per cent tariff on imports of India items in response to New Delhi’s oil commerce with Moscow.
When requested in regards to the India-US ties, MacGregor stated, ‘So we (US) have this behavior of ‘you are both with us or towards us.’ (Former US President) George Washington stated one thing that we have misplaced contact with within the final 25-30 years: ‘No state may be anticipated to maneuver past the boundaries of its personal pursuits.’ We do not appear to know that. We aren’t excited by partnerships or restricted legal responsibility partnerships. Perceive that India is not going to all the time agree with the whole lot we are saying or the whole lot we wish to do.’
‘Within the areas of commerce and commerce and safety, there’s cause for cooperation and cause for enterprise. So let’s focus there. That is not the way in which it really works in Washington. It is a silly mentality that claims, if you are going to do enterprise with Russia, then we’re towards you,’ he added.
Whereas commenting on India-US ties, the defence professional additionally famous that India has traditionally been Russia’s ally. He added that no person expects a warfare to interrupt out between India and China.
‘India is traditionally Russia’s ally, despite the fact that it might be non-aligned. Secondly, no person thinks the Chinese language are going to invade India. Everybody regards the border clashes as simply clashes. There isn’t a unanimity of view on the place the border runs. However no person expects a warfare to interrupt out with China and India. Additionally, the Russians continued to attract assist from India within the worldwide discussion board,’ he stated.
Final yr, Donald Trump imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian items. Since then, New Delhi has been in talks with Washington to signal a commerce deal. Days after India concluded its negotiations with the European Union on a Free Commerce Settlement (FTA), dubbed the ‘mom of all offers’, Union Minister Piyush Goyal informed ANI that India is now seeking to shut offers with america and different nations.
In the meantime, textile and attire exports to the US contracted sharply, falling 31.4 per cent year-on-year in November 2025 in contrast with November 2024, in accordance with OTXEA information and Citi Evaluation. Nonetheless, the FTA with the EU and different nations will assist New Delhi enhance its exports.
Whereas Trump cited India’s oil commerce with Russia as the rationale to impose further 25 per cent duties, the Financial Survey 2026 highlights a notable enhance in crude oil imports from the US relative to Russia within the Monetary 12 months 2026 (April-November).
‘A notable enhance within the variety of nations from which India imports crude oil has been noticed. In FY26 (April-November), crude oil imports from Libya, Egypt, Brazil, the US and Brunei elevated considerably in comparison with the identical interval in FY25, whereas these from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Venezuela declined,’ the Financial Survey stated. (ANI)
