Power is Power

Recently, the US imposed 25% tariffs on India, taking the total tariffs to 50%. The reason given by them was that India was importing Russian oil and hence funding the war. The reason did not pass the smell test as China imports more oil than India, and Europe spends a lot on gas. The US imports potassium and other commodities from the US.

In the first few days, US officials were a bit uncomfortable when asked these questions. They were squeamish and tried to wriggle out by saying that increasing tariffs on China would hurt the US itself. This showed what power and leverage mean.

Power is power. In the law of the jungle, the bigger fish eat the smaller fish. Friendship, good intentions, speaking same language, have same political system do not matter when the metal hits the road. What matters is - how rich you are? and how much military power you have? In effect, what this means is if hurt, how badly can you hurt someone back?

China cannot be hurt because it can hurt back by stopping the export of rare earth minerals. Europe has already kissed the ring with investments. India neither has military power nor any viable monopoly with which it can threaten, so it is bullied.

To have peace - prepare for war. For diplomacy to work, have a big stick to wield.