There Are Some Countries We Need to Fix – Like India and Brazil: US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick

In a bold and controversial statement, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick declared, “There are some countries we need to fix — like India and Brazil. These countries need to react correctly to America. They need to open their markets and stop taking actions that harm America.”

Lutnick’s words are more than just a call for fair trade — they are a stark reminder of how some in Washington still view the world through a lens of dominance and hierarchy. His remarks suggest that India and Brazil are problems to be “fixed,” as if they are subordinate states whose policies exist only to serve American interests.

But here’s the reality Lutnick seems to have forgotten: India is not a vessel state, and it is certainly not a colony. Gone are the days when external powers could dictate how India should run its economy or craft its policies. Today, India is a global superpower, a rising economic giant whose decisions impact the entire world. It has its own strategic interests, development goals, and international partnerships — none of which need to be approved by the United States.

Demanding that India “react correctly” to America is not just arrogant; it’s deeply disrespectful to the principles of sovereignty and equality that international diplomacy is supposed to uphold. India’s market is one of the largest and most dynamic in the world, and access to it is a privilege, not an entitlement. If the U.S. seeks deeper trade ties, it must come to the table as a partner, not a master issuing commands.

By framing India and Brazil as countries that must stop taking actions that “harm America,” Lutnick reveals a troubling mindset. What exactly counts as “harm”? Building independent supply chains? Forming partnerships with other global powers? Protecting domestic industries? If any move that doesn’t perfectly align with U.S. interests is labeled harmful, then mutual respect and true cooperation become impossible.

India’s message to the world has been clear: it will collaborate, not submit. Lutnick’s outdated rhetoric belongs to an era of colonial control — an era India has left behind. As a modern superpower, India has both the strength and the vision to make decisions on its own terms, and no external force can “fix” that.

If the U.S. wants a stronger relationship with India, it must recognize this reality and treat India as an equal partner, not a country to be corrected or controlled.