Geopolitics Archives - Newscript EnergyWorld

The Tariff That Struck a Nerve: India–US Trade in Turmoil

19Apr

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Geopolitics

The Tariff That Struck a Nerve: India–US Trade in Turmoil

Newscript, August 5, 2025 By Pallab Bhattacharya Introduction A silence hung over India’s financial markets the morning after President Donald Trump’s announcement. Then came the tremor. Starting August 7, Indian exports to the United States—worth nearly $87 billion—will be slapped with a blanket 25% tariff, a fourfold jump from the average 2024 rate. From artisanal shawls in Kashmir to iPhones assembled in Chennai, the imposition cuts across every sector of India's export machinery. What’s at stake is not just commerce—but a hard-won strategic equation that has defined India–US relations for over three decades. This is not the first time trade has been weaponised by Washington. But for India, the timing is unprecedented. Just as it emerged as a China+1 manufacturi...

Weekly Energy Brief : September 1- September 7

19Apr

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Environmental Accountability, Geopolitics, News Update, Oil & Gas Industry, Renewables

Weekly Energy Brief : September 1- September 7

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY India’s energy system showed resilience amid geopolitical stress. The U.S. 50% tariff shock was offset by Russia’s ~$7/bbl discount, sustaining flows through a ~6 mb/d shadow market while the Indian crude basket hovered near $70.71/bbl; pump prices in Delhi stayed broadly steady. Policy tailwinds accelerated the transition: ALMM List-II became mandatory for solar tenders, and a forthcoming GST reset cuts rates on renewable components to 5% while lifting coal/lignite to 18%, sharpening clean-power economics. Renewables reached 237 GW, with H1-2025 clean generation at ~236 TWh (+20% y/y); domestic module capacity now exceeds 100 GW. Corporates advanced green hydrogen, storage, and ammonia projects, as regulators tightened ESG: SEBI’s value-chain reporting is voluntary in ...

Indian Refiners Resume Russian Oil Purchases despite US Tariff Pressure

19Apr

By Newscript News NetworkNo Comments

Geopolitics, Oil & Gas Industry

Indian Refiners Resume Russian Oil Purchases despite US Tariff Pressure

India’s state-owned refiners have resumed Russian crude purchases for September delivery, prioritising commercial benefits over mounting diplomatic pressure from Washington. Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation secured Russian Urals crude at $3-per-barrel discounts for September and October shipments. The companies had paused purchases in July when price differentials narrowed but recommenced buying as commercial terms improved. The procurement restart occurs despite US President Donald Trump’s 25% additional tariff on Indian goods, imposed August 27 to penalise India’s continued energy trade with Russia. The levy specifically targets Delhi’s Russian oil imports, which have provided India with $12.6 billion in savings over 39 months. IOC has expanded its Russian...

When Oil and Tariffs Collide: India’s Energy Gamble in a Tense Trade World

19Apr

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Geopolitics, Oil & Gas Industry

When Oil and Tariffs Collide: India’s Energy Gamble in a Tense Trade World

By Pallab Bhattacharya Newscript | August 6, 2025 Oil prices are rising. The rupee is falling. And India’s central bank is walking a policy tightrope. All it took was a fresh burst of tariff threats from former US President Donald Trump, this time aimed squarely at India, to jolt global commodity and currency markets. As of August 6, 2025, Brent crude hovered around $69 per barrel—rebounding from five-week lows—while the Indian rupee slumped 1.18% against the dollar in a single week. Foreign exchange reserves fell sharply by $9.3 billion to $688.9 billion. For a country importing over 89.1% of its crude oil needs, this is more than noise. With domestic production languishing at roughly 573,000 barrels per day, against consumption of over 5.05 to 5.3 million barr...

Cross-border electricity empire cements India’s stranglehold over South Asian energy

19Apr

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Geopolitics, News Update, Power

Cross-border electricity empire cements India’s stranglehold over South Asian energy

India has consolidated its position as South Asia’s primary energy supplier through expanded cross-border electricity trading arrangements with neighbouring countries, fundamentally reshaping regional energy security dynamics. The strategic initiative has transformed India from a regional energy importer to the dominant electricity exporter across the subcontinent. Recent trade data indicates India now exports electricity to Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bhutan through dedicated transmission interconnections, generating substantial foreign exchange earnings whilst supporting regional development objectives. The cross-border trade mechanism enables optimal utilisation of India’s surplus generation capacity during specific seasons. Energy ministry officials highlight that cross-borde...

The Energy Wars: How Oil is Redrawing the World Map

19Apr

By Pallab BhattacharyaNo Comments

Geopolitics, Newsletter, Opinion

The Energy Wars: How Oil is Redrawing the World Map

Executive Summary Since Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion, global oil trade has undergone its most dramatic transformation in decades. India emerged as an unlikely beneficiary, increasing Russian crude imports from negligible volumes to 1.6 million barrels daily—40% of total imports—generating $2.7 billion monthly savings through $15-20 per barrel discounts. Western sanctions triggered a 60% redirection of Russian exports from Europe to Asia within 18 months, enabling Moscow to earn $119 billion from oil sales in 2024. The crisis accelerated alternative payment systems bypassing Western financial infrastructure, while creating permanent market fragmentation along geopolitical lines that may outlast the conflict itself. Trade, Tariff, Trump and Tremor In the three years since Russi...

India-US Tariffs Stand-off: Why Swadeshi 2.0 Can’t Wait

19Apr

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Geopolitics, Opinion

India-US Tariffs Stand-off: Why Swadeshi 2.0 Can’t Wait

Newscript, August 11, 2025 By Pallab Bhattacharya Donald Trump’s latest tariff strike on Indian goods is less a trade adjustment than an economic ambush. An extra 25 percentage points, piled on top of existing duties, takes the levy to a bruising 50 per cent on most affected products. Officially, the justification is India’s continued purchase of Russian crude. Unofficially, it is about leverage — a show of power wrapped in the flag of America First. As Dr Ajit Ranade, economist and vice-chancellor of the Gokhale Institute, observes: “These are not pure trade measures. They are geopolitical tools aimed at forcing policy alignment.” The Alaska Distraction The Trump–Putin encounter in Alaska on 15 August will dominate the news cycle. If Trump can return from the meeting claiming “...

US Airstrikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites Shatter a Fragile Deterrent

19Apr

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Geopolitics

US Airstrikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites Shatter a Fragile Deterrent

In the most consequential American military action in the Middle East in over a decade, the United States has struck three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities, dramatically expanding a conflict that had until now largely been waged in the shadows. The pre-dawn aerial bombardment, reportedly conducted by B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, targeted the Fordow uranium enrichment complex, the Natanz centrifuge facility, and a site near Isfahan. The Pentagon confirmed the strikes were aimed at “strategic containment” of Iran’s nuclear capability. Fordow Nuclear Site: The Strike’s Epicenter Fordow, buried under 80 meters of reinforced rock near Qom, has long been a cornerstone of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Intelligence leaks indicated uranium enrichment at Fordow had reached 83.7% purity, danger...

US–Russia Talks Ease Oil Market Tensions

19Apr

By Pallab BhattacharyaNo Comments

Geopolitics, News Update

US–Russia Talks Ease Oil Market Tensions

A weekend round of diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow has soothed one of the biggest risks hanging over global oil markets: fresh sanctions on Russian energy exports. US officials signalled that no immediate measures would be taken to curb Russian crude shipments, while Moscow agreed to resume technical discussions on pricing and transit. The apparent thaw has calmed traders who feared renewed confrontation could choke off supplies and push Brent well past $70. The reprieve comes at a critical juncture. Europe remains heavily reliant on Russian oil even after diversification efforts, and Asian refiners—particularly India and China—have been pivotal in absorbing flows displaced from Western buyers. The US stance buys time for markets to adjust, though observers stress...

Crude Prices Slip as Markets Seek Balance

19Apr

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Geopolitics, News Update

Crude Prices Slip as Markets Seek Balance

By Pallab Bhattacharya Newscript, August 18, 2025 Global oil benchmarks edged lower in Monday’s Asian session, extending last week’s pullback amid calming geopolitical jitters. West Texas Intermediate was quoted at $62.64 a barrel, down 0.26 per cent, while Brent crude hovered at $65.60, down 0.37 per cent. The softening reflects a tentative equilibrium between producers and markets following assurances that Russian crude would not face immediate new sanctions. Traders also point to subdued demand signals from Asia’s industrial economies, with China’s slowing manufacturing output contributing to the bearish tone. For India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, the dip offers a rare reprieve. The country’s import bill crossed $137bn last year, exposing the economy to exchang...