NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: Amid rising tensions between Washington and Delhi over tariffs and India’s purchase of Russian oil, US President Donald Trump emphasized that the United States and India share a “special relationship” and there is no cause for alarm, calling recent disagreements “moments” rather than a break in ties.
“I’ll always be friends with [Narendra] Modi… He’s a great prime minister. But I just don’t like what he’s doing at this particular moment. India and the United States have a special relationship. There’s nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion,” Trump said during a Friday Oval Office interaction.
The president’s comments came in response to a question on whether he is willing to reset ties with India, as relations are reportedly experiencing their most strained phase in over two decades.
Trump also expressed his disappointment over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. “I’ve been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia, and I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India — a 50 per cent tariff, very high. I get along very well with [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi. He’s great. He was here a couple of months ago,” Trump said, addressing a social media post in which he suggested the US has “lost India and Russia to China.”
In his post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” The post also included an older photograph of Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Trump’s comments followed global attention on the warm interaction among Modi, Xi, and Putin at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.
When asked about trade talks with India and other nations, Trump said, “They are going great. Other countries are doing great. We’re doing great with all of them. We’re upset with the European Union because of what’s happening with not just Google, but with all of our big companies.”
Meanwhile, Peter Navarro, Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, criticized India on X, saying its high tariffs cost US jobs. “India buys Russian oil purely to profit/revenues feed Russia’s war machine. Ukrainians/Russians die. US taxpayers shell out more. India can’t handle truth/spins,” he wrote.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett added that Trump and his trade team are frustrated that India continues to financially support Russia’s war in Ukraine. “I think the trade team and the president are disappointed that India continues to fund Russia’s Ukraine war, and hopefully it’s a diplomatic issue that will see positive developments soon,” Hassett told reporters at the White House on Friday.
