US President Donald Trump once again claimed that he has discussed with Prime Minister Modi about the import of Russian oil by India and that India will not buy more oil from Russia.
It is noteworthy that Trump said this while talking to reporters after the Diwali celebrations in the Oval Office on Tuesday (US local time).
The US President also said the two countries are working on “some great deals” and emphasized that he has a “very good relationship” with Prime Minister Modi.
Trump said, “I love the people of India. We are working on some wonderful agreements between our countries. I spoke to Prime Minister Modi today and we have a very good relationship. He will not buy much oil from Russia. He also wants to see that war end, just like I do. He wants to see the war between Russia and Ukraine end. He is not going to buy a lot of oil. So he has cut it down significantly, and he “Continually making cuts.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the conversation between himself and the US President, although there was no mention of oil purchase.
Prime Minister Modi said, “President Trump, thank you for your phone call and warm wishes for Diwali. On this festival of lights, may our two great democracies continue to show a ray of hope to the world and remain united against all forms of terrorism.”
Earlier on October 18, while addressing a bilateral lunch with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, the US President had claimed that India has significantly reduced its oil imports from Russia and is now completely withdrawing. He had said that New Delhi “will no longer buy oil from Russia.”
Trump said, “India will no longer buy Russian oil, and Hungary is also implicated in this issue, because they have had the same pipeline for years, and they are inland; they don’t have an ocean, and I talked to their leader. But India will not buy oil from Russia.”
Trump’s comments come in the context of ongoing geopolitical pressure on countries to downgrade their energy ties with Russia in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine, which the West claims is fueling Moscow’s military campaign in the region.
On October 16, India responded to Trump’s comments about Prime Minister Modi’s assurance to stop Russian oil purchases, saying the country’s energy supply is guided by its national interests and the need to protect Indian consumers.
President Trump had claimed that Prime Minister Modi had assured him that India would stop buying oil from Russia, calling it a “major step” in efforts to increase global pressure on Moscow.
Responding to ANI’s question on whether he considered India a reliable partner, Trump said, “Yes, absolutely. He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) is my friend. We have a very good relationship. I was not happy with the fact that India was buying oil. And he assured me today that they will not buy oil from Russia. This is a big milestone. Now we have to get China to do the same.”
India has long described Moscow’s oil imports as essential for economic stability, while Washington has been urging New Delhi to diversify its energy sources.