US President’s Assertion Draws Mixed Reactions Amid Ongoing Trade Tensions
United States President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to cease India’s purchases of oil from Russia. This claim was reported by Reuters, with Trump stating that he received assurances from Modi that this halt would occur “within a short period of time,” describing it as “a big stop.” He acknowledged, however, that India could not immediately stop these oil shipments, indicating that the transition would take some time but would conclude soon.
In his remarks from the Oval Office, Trump expressed his intention to persuade China to follow suit regarding Russian oil imports. He emphasized that the change in India’s purchasing behavior would not happen overnight, referring to the process as one that would take a little while but would ultimately be resolved shortly.
As of now, the Indian government has not issued any official statement in response to Trump’s assertions. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized Trump’s comments, suggesting that they reflect Modi’s fear of the US president. Gandhi questioned why Modi would allow Trump to dictate India’s oil purchasing decisions, highlighting various instances he believes demonstrate Modi’s submissive stance towards Trump.
Trump’s comments come amid heightened tensions between New Delhi and Washington, particularly following the US’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods and punitive levies on Russian oil imports. The US president has previously claimed that India’s oil purchases were indirectly financing Russia’s ongoing military actions in Ukraine. Currently, the tariff rate imposed on India stands at 50%, which includes a 25% reciprocal duty that was introduced on August 7, followed by an additional 25% punitive levy on August 27.
In response to these tariffs, New Delhi expressed its disappointment, labeling the situation as “extremely unfortunate,” especially as similar actions were being taken by other nations in pursuit of their national interests. Despite these tensions, recent developments have indicated a renewed momentum in trade discussions between India and the US.
On September 23, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal engaged in talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New York, aimed at accelerating ongoing negotiations. This meeting followed a previous encounter on September 15, where a delegation led by Brendan Lynch, the chief negotiator for the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, met with Indian officials in New Delhi.
