US President Donald Trump said he has a “very good relationship” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi but claimed that the leader is unhappy with him due to the high tariffs imposed on India over its continued purchase 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 due to its purchase of Russian oil,” Trump said. India has defended its decision to buy Russian crude, saying energy imports are guided by national interest and the need to keep fuel affordable for citizens. It has also said it will continue to engage with all partners while protecting its strategic and economic priorities.
Trump recalls meeting with Modi in personal terms
Trump also made a personal remark about Prime Minister Modi while speaking at the House GOP Member retreat claiming the Indian leader sought a meeting with him. Trump said Modi came to see me, “Sir, may I see you please’. Yes.”
Trump’s remarks came a day after he warned that the US could further raise tariffs on Indian goods if it does not address American concerns over Russian oil imports. “They wanted to make me happy, basically. PM Modi’s a very good man. He’s a good guy. He knew I was not happy. It was important to make me happy,” Trump said earlier. He also added a direct warning on trade, saying, “They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly.”
US-India trade talks face uncertainty
US has been trying to reduce its trade deficit with India. Last year, Washington doubled import tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, over India’s large-scale purchases of Russian oil. While India and the US are negotiating a possible trade agreement, the talks have been uneven.
Discussions began earlier this year but were disrupted after the US imposed high tariffs on Indian imports.
India became the largest buyer of discounted Russian seaborne crude after the Ukraine war began in 2022. This has led to criticism from the US, which is trying to limit Russia’s energy revenues.
However India has repeatedly said that buying Russian oil is necessary to ensure energy security and manage domestic fuel costs.
Regardless of sharp remarks on tariffs, Trump has continued to publicly praise Prime Minister Modi. Recently, the US Embassy in India shared Trump’s comments on social media.
In the post, Trump described India as “an amazing country” and said the US has found “a great friend” in Modi.
“India is home to one of the world’s oldest civilisations. It is an amazing country and an important strategic partner for America in the Indo-Pacific region. We have a great friend in PM Modi,” he wrote.