Putin warns Trump: Don’t treat India, China colonially
Putin says colonial era is over, urges Washington to change outdated rhetoric.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a sharp rebuke to Washington this week, cautioning the United States against trying to strong-arm India and China with threats of tariffs and sanctions. Speaking at a press conference following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and a large military parade in China, Putin made it clear that the era of colonial-style dominance was long over, and that great powers like India and China could not be treated in such a dismissive or coercive manner.
“You cannot talk to India or China in that way,” Putin said firmly, highlighting the need for respect and equal dialogue between nations. He argued that Washington’s current rhetoric echoed outdated thinking, rooted in a mindset of control and intimidation that belonged to another century. “The colonial era is now over.
Putin’s comments carried weight, given both the historical context and present-day realities. He reminded his audience that nations like India and China had endured painful histories of foreign domination, exploitation, and interference in their sovereignty. Those experiences, he said, continue to shape their political instincts and the way their leaders respond to external threats.
“You have countries like India with 1.5 billion people, and China with equally powerful economies and influence, but they also have their own domestic political mechanisms and laws,” he explained. “When somebody tells you they are going to punish you, you have to think—how can the leadership of those big countries react?”
According to Putin, no leader of such nations could afford to appear weak or submissive, especially when historical memories of colonial subjugation are still vivid. So that influences his behaviour,” he remarked.
Despite his criticism of U.S. He suggested that tensions, however high at the moment, would eventually calm down.
Putin’s remarks come at a time when India finds itself facing pressure from Washington for its continued purchase of Russian oil. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has already imposed what it calls “secondary sanctions” on New Delhi, punishing it for maintaining energy ties with Moscow despite Western attempts to isolate Russia economically.
Trump has hinted that these measures could intensify further. Boasting about the effectiveness of U.S.
The American president also had a blunt message for India. “Two weeks ago, I said, if India buys, India’s got big problems, and that’s what happens,” Trump told reporters, making it clear that Washington would not hesitate to escalate pressure on its long-standing partner.
Yet, in contrast to Trump’s hardline warnings, Putin offered words of appreciation for India’s global role. Earlier on Monday, he praised New Delhi’s diplomatic efforts to help resolve the Ukraine conflict, placing India in the company of China and other strategic partners working toward peace.
Acknowledging India’s contribution as both constructive and meaningful.
Putin’s dual message—condemning Washington’s coercive approach while praising India’s diplomacy—reflects Russia’s broader strategy of positioning itself alongside Asia’s rising powers. For Moscow, respect and partnership, rather than sanctions and threats, remain the only viable path forward in an increasingly multipolar world.