Washington, DC [US], January 7 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday highlighted India-US defense cooperation, claiming that India’s order for 68 Apache attack helicopters was delayed by five years and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally raised concerns over the long delivery timeline during a meeting with him.
Speaking at the House GOP Member Retreat, Trump referred to defense ties between the United States and India while criticizing what he described as prolonged delays in the supply of defense equipment.
“India came to me saying they had been waiting for five years, and we are changing that. India ordered 68 Apache helicopters. PM 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 also reiterated that he shares a good relationship with Prime Minister Modi but said the Indian leader was unhappy over high tariffs imposed on India due to its purchases of Russian oil.
“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, totaling 50 percent, were imposed due to India’s significant purchases of Russian oil, which the United States views as supporting Russia’s economy amid the Ukraine conflict.
Trump’s remarks came a day after he warned that Washington could further raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi does not address US 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.
Trump also defended the tariff policy during his address, asserting that the United States was benefiting financially from the measures.
His comments follow a series of warnings to New Delhi over its ongoing energy trade with Moscow. Trump has previously said the US could raise 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 basis for sharply higher duties on Indian goods. Trump has also used tariff pressure as leverage, 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 without any concrete breakthrough.
India has earlier rejected Trump’s assertion that Prime Minister Modi had assured him New Delhi would stop purchasing Russian oil, clarifying that no such conversation or assurance had taken place.
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