The ‘Mother of All Deals’ Silences the Bully
By Ranjan
The halls of the U.S. Treasury are echoing with a distinct sound this week: the sound of a "खिसियानी बिल्ली" (a frustrated cat) scratching at the walls of a world that has moved past it.
The historic conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA)—the "Mother of All Deals"—has left Washington’s "Art of the Deal" playbook in shreds.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has taken to the airwaves to vent "disappointment," accusing Europe of "financing the war against itself."
But to the world, the subtext is clear: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has checkmated Donald Trump's attempt to bully India into submission.
The halls of the U.S. Treasury are echoing with a distinct sound this week: the sound of a "खिसियानी बिल्ली" (a frustrated cat) scratching at the walls of a world that has moved past it.
The historic conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA)—the "Mother of All Deals"—has left Washington’s "Art of the Deal" playbook in shreds.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has taken to the airwaves to vent "disappointment," accusing Europe of "financing the war against itself."
But to the world, the subtext is clear: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has checkmated Donald Trump's attempt to bully India into submission.
The Tug of War: How Modi Grounded the Pressure
For over a year, the Trump administration attempted a high-stakes squeeze play. Using a cocktail of 25% penal tariffs on Indian goods (as "punishment" for Russian oil purchases) and threats of a massive 500% duty, Trump believed he could choke the Indian economy into a corner.Trump’s strategy was simple: Pressure, Tariff, Repeat. He bet that by weaponizing the American market, he could force New Delhi to abandon its strategic autonomy and stop its energy trade with Russia.
However, Trump underestimated the man across the table. PM Modi did not blink. Instead of succumbing to the "Art of the Squeeze," Modi pivoted.
While Trump was busy tweeting threats and painting the US into an isolationist corner, Modi was quietly weaving a web of partnership across 27 European nations.
The "Mother of All Deals" vs. The "Bully's Tariff"
The India-EU FTA is the definitive victory for Modi’s "Strategic Autonomy" over Trump’s "Transactional Protectionism."
By opening a combined market of 2 billion people and slashing tariffs on 99.5% of Indian exports, Modi has effectively neutralized Trump’s leverage.
* Trump’s Failure: His 50% combined tariff wall was meant to bring India to its knees. Instead, it only served to make the US look like an unreliable partner.
* Modi’s Victory: By securing zero-duty access for Indian textiles, leather, and engineering goods in Europe, Modi has ensured that Indian exporters no longer need to fear Washington’s whims.
Modi has shown that if one door is slammed shut by protectionism, he has the global weight to build a much larger, more stable hallway elsewhere.
A Blindness to the New World Order
The primary tragedy of the Trump administration is its inability to see the world as it is in 2026. Scott Bessent’s critique—that Europe "refused to join" the US—reveals a deep-seated denial.
Washington still believes it can dictate global terms through threats.
They fail to realize that India is no longer a "swing state" to be managed; it is a global pole.
Washington still believes it can dictate global terms through threats.
They fail to realize that India is no longer a "swing state" to be managed; it is a global pole.
PM Modi has balanced energy needs, security commitments, and economic growth with a level of maturity that has left the White House looking like a relic of 20th-century thinking.
The "Khisiyani Billi" Syndrome
Bessent’s claim that Europe is "funding the war" is the height of diplomatic irony.It is the defensive crouch of an administration that realizes its blackmail has failed.
Like the proverbial khisiyani billi, the US administration is lashing out because it has lost control of the narrative.
While Trump stays stuck in a loop of "America First" isolationism, Modi has signaled that "India
First" means "Global Growth First." By finalizing the deal on the sidelines of India’s Republic Day,
Modi didn't just sign a paper; he led a 27-nation coalition that effectively told Trump: The era of being bullied is over.
Like the proverbial khisiyani billi, the US administration is lashing out because it has lost control of the narrative.
While Trump stays stuck in a loop of "America First" isolationism, Modi has signaled that "India
First" means "Global Growth First." By finalizing the deal on the sidelines of India’s Republic Day,
Modi didn't just sign a paper; he led a 27-nation coalition that effectively told Trump: The era of being bullied is over.
The Caravan Moves On
The India-EU FTA is more than just a trade pact; it is a manifesto for a multipolar world where PM Modi is the primary architect.
It proves that the "blackmail" of the past year was a depreciating asset.
It proves that the "blackmail" of the past year was a depreciating asset.
As Prime Minister Modi and EU leaders celebrate a deal that will redefine the next twenty years, the US Treasury continues to complain from the sidelines.
The world has moved on, the "Mother of All Deals" is signed, and Washington’s scratching at the pole is being drowned out by the roar of an Indian economy that no longer asks for permission.
The world has moved on, the "Mother of All Deals" is signed, and Washington’s scratching at the pole is being drowned out by the roar of an Indian economy that no longer asks for permission.
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