India's Modi seeks 'self-reliance' on Independence Day

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared defiant against US threats of additional tariffs, saying on Friday that the country seeks self-reliance in energy independence and the development of its own powerful defense systems.

Speaking on India's 79th Independence Day from New Delhi's Red Fort, Modi also warned Pakistan against any future threats against his country.

What did Modi say about energy independence?

The Indian Prime Minister did not directly address US President Donald Trump's threats to pile up punishing tariffs on New Delhi to pressure it against purchasing Russian oil. Instead, he kept his focus on independence and self-reliance.

"Self-reliance is the foundation of developed India," Modi said after a flypast of military helicopters scattered flower petals above an invited crowd of thousands. "Freedom becomes meaningless if someone becomes too dependent on others".

While India has expressed readiness to support efforts to end the war in Ukraine, its Russian oil purchase is seen as a lifeline for Moscow's attacks. Trump says he will double new import tariffs on India to 50% by August 27 if it doesn't stop buying Russian crude oil.

Modi acknowledged "that we remain dependent on many countries to meet our energy needs."

"But to build a truly self-reliant India, we must achieve energy independence," he stressed.

The Indian prime minister also vowed to defend India's agricultural interests and that of its farmers, among the sticking points in trade negotiations with the US, "like a wall." The US wants India to be a more open agricultural market to its products.

Marking India's Independence Day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described relations between the two nations as "consequential and far-reaching," wishing "a brighter future for both."

What did Modi say about Pakistan?

Modi said that India has established a "new normal" that does not differentiate between "terrorists" and those who support terrorism, vowing not to tolerate what he called Pakistan's "nuclear blackmail."

"India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats. For a long time, nuclear blackmail had been going on but this blackmail will not be tolerated now," Modi said.

The speech came barely three months after the biggest military confrontation between New Delhi and Islamabad in recent years, triggered by a gunmen attack on mostly Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 dead. India accused Pakistan of supporting the attackers, an allegation Islamabad denies.

Modi also hinted on Friday that New Delhi would continue its unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. The treaty allows sharing the roughly 2,897-kilometer (1800-mile) river, a lifeline for both countries. India first suspended it in reaction to the Kashmir attack.

"Rivers from India were irrigating the lands of enemies while my country's farmers and land faced a deficiency of water," Modi said. "India has now decided that blood and water will not flow together."

Islamabad has previously said that any efforts to stop or divert the water from flowing into Pakistan would be considered an "act of war."

Editors note: This article has been updated to reflect that India is celebrating its 79th Independence Day, not its 78th as previously stated.

Edited by: Louis Oelofse