Former US President Donald Trump has publicly stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "not that happy" with him, directly linking this sentiment to the significant tariffs Washington has imposed on India due to its continued purchases of Russian oil. Trump made these remarks while addressing the House GOP Member Retreat, connecting trade pressure to New Delhi's energy relationship with Moscow.
Trade Tensions and Defense Delays
During his speech, Trump discussed his interactions with the Indian leader, touching upon both US defense sales and the contentious tariff policy. He revealed that India had expressed concerns over delays in receiving American military hardware, a situation he claims is now being resolved. Specifically, Trump mentioned that "India ordered 68 Apaches" and had been waiting for five years to receive these advanced attack helicopters.
While emphasizing his generally good relationship with PM Modi, Trump acknowledged the strain caused by the tariffs. "He's not that happy with me because, you know, they're paying a lot of tariffs now because they're not doing the oil, but they are — they've now reduced it very substantially, as you know, from Russia," Trump said, as per reports.
The 50% Tariff and Repeated Warnings
The tariff in question is a substantial 50 per cent levy on Indian goods. A significant portion of this, specifically 25 per cent, is directly tied to India's purchases of Russian crude oil. Trump defended this policy broadly, asserting that the United States is benefiting financially from these measures.
These comments are not isolated but part of a pattern of warnings from Trump to New Delhi regarding its oil trade with Russia amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He has previously threatened to raise tariffs even further if India does not "help on the Russian oil issue," explicitly connecting the trade threat to the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump has accused India of strengthening Moscow's position by purchasing discounted Russian crude, citing this as the primary justification for the sharply higher duties.
Tariffs as a Tool and Mediation Claims
Trump has portrayed the tariff pressure as a deliberate tool to influence India's foreign policy behavior. He suggested that New Delhi is aware of his displeasure and wishes to keep bilateral trade relations on a stable track.
Simultaneously, the former President has sought to position himself as a potential mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He has held separate talks with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, although these discussions have not yielded any concrete diplomatic breakthrough so far.
In response to earlier claims by Trump, the Indian government has firmly rejected the assertion that PM Modi had assured him that New Delhi would stop buying Russian oil. Indian officials clarified that no such conversation or assurance ever took place, maintaining India's stance of prioritizing its energy security and national interest.
