By Admin 
India-US Relations: US President Donald Trump has once again talked about his relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump said that relations between the two are good, but PM Modi is not happy with the heavy tariffs imposed on India for the purchase of Russian oil.
Referring to his conversation with PM Modi during the House GOP member retreat, Trump said that relations between America and India are still friendly, but the tariff issue is creating tension. He also talked about the discussions he had with PM Modi regarding defense deals and tariffs.
Trump said this
Trump said, ‘I have a very good relationship with Prime Minister Modi, but he is not happy with me because India has to pay higher tariffs. However, now they have reduced oil purchases from Russia to a great extent. America has imposed a total of 50 percent tariffs on India, out of which 25 percent tariffs have been imposed for purchasing oil from Russia. America believes that by buying oil from Russia, India is indirectly strengthening Russia’s economy, while the Russia-Ukraine war continues. This statement of Trump has come at a time when a day earlier he had warned that if India does not address American concerns regarding oil imports from Russia, then tariffs on Indian goods can be further increased.
‘Modi knew I was not happy’
Trump said, ‘Modi knew that I was not happy. He wanted to make me happy. Modi is a very good person. In his speech, Trump also defended the tariff policy and said that America is benefiting economically from it. He also said that America is using tariffs to protect its interests.
In recent times, Trump has been continuously putting pressure on India to buy oil from Russia. They allege that India is giving financial help to Russia by buying cheap Russian oil. For this reason, higher duty has been imposed on Indian products.
India had rejected Trump’s claim
However, India has already rejected Trump’s claim that PM Modi has assured to stop purchasing oil from Russia. India has made it clear that no such talks or promises have taken place. Meanwhile, Trump is also presenting himself as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war. He has talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, although no concrete results have been announced yet.