Former Foreign Minister of Singapore George Yeo has taken a sharp jibe at the President of United States Donald Trump. He asserted that after repeatedly escalating a tariff tussle with India, Trump realized that he cannot bully India. In this direction, Donald Trump’s birthday wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi indeed came as a conciliatory note.
Apparently, US President Donald Trump has imposed a massive 50 per cent tariffs on India that includes 25 per cent additional tariffs for importing the Russian oil. Initially Trump had considered that by imposing tariffs and economic pressures on New Delhi, he can indirectly pressurize Moscow to come to an agreement with respect to the Russia-Ukraine war and make Russia bow down to the terms of the US. However, India was firm on its national security and energy security priorities and took firm, independent strategic decisions, devoid of any unreasonable economic and geopolitical pressures.
While addressing the Zagreb School of Economics and Management, Former Foreign Minister of Singapore George Yeo reiterated, “When Ukraine war happened, India was not going to disavow Russia. India stood firm. Trump realizing that you can’t bully India, sent him birthday greetings”. Modi reciprocated Trump’s birthday wishes and said, “Thank You”, George Yeo further added. He asserted that this entire episode is a perfect testament to the reconfiguration of a multi-polar world order.
"India stood firm against America. Trump then realised that he can't bully India and so he sent those birthday greetings to Modi," says former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo pic.twitter.com/aPecwqkqYd
— Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) October 4, 2025
George Yeo also spoke on how the United States aligned with Pakistan during the conflict between India and Pakistan(Operation Sindoor). “After the war between India and Pakistan, India found out that the US was not going to support India against Pakistan. Infact Trump invited the Pakistan Army Chief(Asim Munir) to the White House and Pakistan agreed to nominate Trump for the Noble Peace Prize”, exclaimed George Yeo.
Apparently, this is not the first time that George Yeo has outrightly criticized the misplaced tariff and trade policies of the Trump administration. Earlier he had warned that the illogical tariffs imposed by Trump are causing a major disruption in the world economic order and is affecting global supply chains by risking production and export. He had exclaimed that Trump’s tariff war is flipping the world back to an old order, where there is no World Trade Organization(WTO), Most Favoured Nation(MFN) status or a free trade arrangement. Trade and tariffs are being used as an instrument to seek political leverage.
The statements from George Yeo are not the first comment emanating from the world criticizing Trump tariff policy and supporting India’s strategic independence. From China to European Union many nations were averse to impose irrational tariffs on India. When Trump demanded the European Union to impose stringent tariffs and trade restrictions on India, Europe was reluctant. Lately, Russian President Vladimir Putin too hailed the strategic firmness of India and reiterated that India won’t tolerate ‘international humiliation’. He praised Prime Minister Modi a ‘wise, balanced and nationally oriented leader’. Putin also expressed hope and confidence to boost trade with India in terms of purchasing the agricultural products and reducing the cliff in the Balance of Trade.
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