As of September 7, 2025, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has stepped down. This is a dramatic fall that is suspected to have been triggered by a lopsided $550 billion trade pact with the United States. The deal, which reduced U.S. tariffs on Japanese cars from 25% to 15% while binding Tokyo to massive investments in American agriculture, semiconductors, and military hardware, ignited fury in Japan.
Critics slammed it as a national sellout. The backlash fractured Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). His resignation — a kind of a forced deal — is perhaps to avert a deeper rift within the party. This is an extremely practical and timely lesson about the perils of yielding to Washington’s demands. This saga also underscores a triumphant comment circulating online: “Shigeru Ishiba proves why Narendra Modi was right to be wary of signing a deal with Trump.”
Modi Was Right: Shigeru Ishiba proves it
PM Modi has so far skilfully navigated these treacherous waters, sidestepping a proposed trade agreement with the Trump administration despite a hefty 50% tariff imposed on Indian goods over New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases. Modi’s caution, rooted in protecting India’s agricultural and dairy sectors, has shielded the nation from a fate like Japan’s.
This foresight could go a long way into cementing his legacy as a leader and earning widespread admiration for prioritizing national interest over external pressure. At the other end, Ishiba’s exit leaves Japan with a weakened yen and a leadership scramble. This potentially favours Sanae Takaichi or Shinjiro Koizumi.
It looks like as of now, PM Modi’s moves have validated India’s global stand. This refusal of his to bow to Trump’s tariff threats (despite the personal relation that he may share with Donald Trump), paired with India’s ascent to the world’s fourth-largest economy, showcases a robust economic strategy.
It Was Worth a Shot
With a little bit of constructive push now, initiatives like Make in India 2.0 could transform the nation into a manufacturing powerhouse and attract global investors through strategic Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). This could also position India as a key player in the “China+1” diversification trend.
The IMF projects a 6.3% growth rate for India in 2026. This remains another testament to Modi’s visionary policies. Social media is abuzz with a certain pride as they realize that Modi’s balancing ties with Russia and the U.S. was worth a shot. His recent summit with Putin, marked by their iconic limousine ride similarly has ruffled a lot of feathers in the West. Be that as it may, this signals India’s growing clout and reinforces New Delhi’s independence.
If whispers in the capital suggest that Modi is quietly savouring this vindication, having outmanoeuvred a volatile negotiator with grace and resolve, let there be no surprise. For India, this triumph is an endorsement of New Delhi’s leadership and diplomatic brilliance.
