There is a calculated logic, however contradictory it may seem, behind the Trump administration’s dual policy of penalizing India while engaging Russia. It is a strategy rooted in a transactional worldview that prioritizes specific, measurable outcomes over ideological consistency.
The penalization of India, through the 50% tariffs that are now fully active, serves a clear purpose: to demonstrate that there are consequences for actions that run counter to US policy. It is a show of strength and a tool of enforcement.
The engagement with Russia serves an entirely different purpose: to achieve a major foreign policy objective. The offer of energy deals and a return for Exxon Mobil is not a reward for past behavior but a potential payment for a future concession—peace in Ukraine.
This calculated contradiction allows the administration to pursue two separate goals at once. It uses a “stick” to enforce compliance with one ally, while using a “carrot” to entice a change in behavior from an adversary. For the White House, the apparent hypocrisy is less important than the potential for achieving both objectives.