Key Takeaways
- Donald Trump claims PM Modi assured him India will stop buying Russian oil.
- The US had imposed 50% tariffs on India over its Russian oil purchases.
- India has previously maintained it will continue securing energy based on favorable rates.
- Trump’s comments follow a meeting between PM Modi and US Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor.
Former US President Donald Trump has asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave him personal assurances that India would cease purchasing Russian oil as the Ukraine conflict continues. This claim comes amid longstanding tensions between the two nations over India’s energy imports from Russia.
Trump made these remarks during an interview with ANI, describing PM Modi as a “great man” and a “great friend.”
“I think they were great…Modi is a great man. He (Sergio Gor) told me that he (PM Modi) loves Trump…I have watched India for years. It’s an incredible country and every single year you would have a new leader. Some would be in there for a few months and this was year after year after year and my friend has been there now for a long time and he’s assured me there will be no oil purchases from Russia…He’s not buying his oil from Russia…He can’t do it immediately,” Trump said.
Background of US-India Tensions
The United States had previously accused India of “feeding Russia’s war machine” through its oil purchases and responded with 50% tariffs. However, India maintained its position, stating it would continue to secure energy based on the most favorable rates and logistical considerations.
Trump’s latest comments follow the recent meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor in New Delhi.
In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “Glad to receive Mr. Sergio Gor, Ambassador-designate of the US to India. I’m confident that his tenure will further strengthen the India–US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.”
Trump’s Changing Stance
The Russian oil issue had significantly strained India-US relations in recent months. Trump had previously criticized India’s economy as “dead” and warned that the US had “lost” New Delhi to China after PM Modi’s meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin at the SCO Summit.
However, the former president later softened his position, referring to PM Modi as his “good friend” and now claiming to have received assurances about ending Russian oil imports.
