US President Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning to India, saying Washington could raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi continues importing oil from Russia. Trump said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of his dissatisfaction with India’s energy ties to Moscow and had taken steps to address the issue.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump claimed India had already reduced its purchases of Russian oil. He added that the US retains the option of swiftly imposing higher tariffs if India does not further cooperate. “PM Modi is a very good man. He knew I was not happy, and they wanted to make me happy,” Trump said.
The remarks come amid heightened scrutiny in Washington over India’s energy trade with Russia, which New Delhi has repeatedly defended as vital to its domestic energy security. Trump’s comments followed a recent phone call between the two leaders, during which they underscored the importance of sustaining bilateral trade relations despite ongoing tariff disputes.
The warning also coincided with the launch of a new round of negotiations between Indian and US officials aimed at resolving a long-standing trade impasse. Talks, which began earlier this year, were disrupted after the US imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on certain Indian imports, straining commercial ties between the two countries.
Despite the tensions, Trump has continued to publicly praise India and Prime Minister Modi. In a recent social media post shared by the US Embassy in India, Trump described India as an “amazing country” and a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific, calling Modi a “great friend” of the United States.
