Washington, DC [US], January 6 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) reiterated that he shares a good personal relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but said the Indian leader is unhappy with him over the high tariffs imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil.
Speaking at the House GOP Member Retreat, Trump referred to his recent exchanges with Prime Minister Modi concerning US defence sales and tariff measures. He indicated that while bilateral relations remain cordial, the issue of tariffs has caused some tension between the two leaders.
“…I have a very good relationship with PM Modi, but he is not happy with me as India is paying high tariffs. But now they have reduced it very substantially, buying oil from Russia,” Trump said. The tariffs, totalling 50 per cent, were imposed due to India’s significant purchases of Russian oil, which Washington views as indirectly supporting Russia’s economy amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Trump’s remarks came a day after he warned that the United States could further raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi does not address US concerns regarding its imports of Russian crude.
“They wanted to make me happy, basically. Modi is a very good man; he is a good guy. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy,” Trump added.
The US President also defended the tariff policy during his address, asserting that the United States was benefiting financially from the measures.
Trump’s comments follow a series of warnings to New Delhi over its continued energy trade with Moscow. Earlier, he cautioned that the US could increase tariffs further if India does not “help on the Russian oil issue,” directly linking the pressure to the Russia-Ukraine war.
He has accused India of strengthening Moscow by purchasing discounted Russian crude and has cited this as the justification for imposing sharply higher duties on Indian exports. Trump has also used tariff pressure as a tool to influence India’s actions, suggesting that New Delhi was aware of his dissatisfaction and sought to maintain stable trade relations.
At the same time, Trump has positioned himself as a potential mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though no concrete breakthrough has been achieved so far.
India has earlier rejected Trump’s assertion that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him New Delhi would stop buying Russian oil, clarifying that no such conversation or assurance had taken place. (ANI)
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