Washington, DC [US], January 7 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) highlighted defence cooperation between India and the United States, claiming that India’s order for 68 Apache attack helicopters faced a delivery delay of nearly five years, an issue he said was personally raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting with him.
Speaking at the House GOP Member Retreat, Trump pointed to what he described as prolonged delays in supplying defence equipment to India and said his administration was working to address them.
“India came to me saying they had been waiting for five years, and we are changing that. India ordered 68 Apache helicopters. Prime Minister Modi came to me and said, ‘Sir, can I please see you?’ and I said yes,” Trump said while recalling his interaction with the Indian Prime Minister.
Trump reiterated that he shares a strong personal relationship with Prime Minister Modi but noted that the Indian leader had expressed dissatisfaction over high US tariffs imposed on India due to its purchases of Russian oil.
“I have a very good relationship with Prime Minister Modi, but he is not happy with me because India is paying high tariffs. But now they have reduced it very substantially, buying oil from Russia,” Trump said.
The tariffs, amounting to nearly 50 per cent, were imposed by Washington in response to India’s continued imports of Russian oil, which the US has argued indirectly support 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 fails to address American concerns over Russian oil imports.
“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 said, while defending his tariff policy and claiming that the United States was benefiting financially from the measures.
The US President has repeatedly warned India that continued purchases of discounted Russian crude could invite stricter trade penalties. He has directly linked tariff pressure to Washington’s broader efforts to curtail Russia’s economic strength during the Russia-Ukraine war.
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 announced.
India has previously rejected Trump’s assertion that Prime Minister Modi assured him New Delhi would halt Russian oil imports, clarifying that no such conversation or commitment took place. (ANI)
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