Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:35am on 29 Jan 2026,Thursday International
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sharply criticised the newly signed India-European Union free trade agreement, accusing European leaders of prioritising trade with India over solidarity with Ukraine amid the war against Russia. Bessent argued that by pursuing the trade deal, Europe has shown a “deep contradiction” in its Ukraine policy and, in his view, placed economic interests above geopolitical commitments. He also said some European nations continued buying refined products linked to discounted Russian oil, undermining coordinated Western sanctions. The landmark India-EU pact is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade, but has triggered transatlantic tensions over geopolitical priorities. (PC: NDTV)
