On 14th July in Washington, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte made unusually blunt remarks that signaled a hardening of the Western position towards countries continuing commercial ties with Russia. Addressing primarily BRICS nations—India, Brazil, and China—he warned that they could face “100 per cent secondary sanctions” from the US if they continued trading with Russia, particularly in the energy sector.
NATO Chief urged these countries to “Call Putin” and persuade him to “get serious about peace,” implying that failure to pressure Russia could lead to economic retaliation. His comments echoed those of US President Donald Trump, who earlier this month issued a parallel threat—10 per cent additional tariffs and reciprocal duties for BRICS nations seen as aligning with “Anti-American” economic policies. This is no longer traditional diplomacy—it’s coercive economic diplomacy, bordering on what many critics would term geo-economic intimidation. Läs artikel