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Trump, Donald

Trump's Claim on India's Russian Oil Purchase Met with Silence from Indian Officials

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Indian officials dismissed US President Donald Trump's claim that he had secured a pledge from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop buying Russian oil, a sensitive topic in the two countries' trade negotiations. The statement by Trump raised questions about the nature of recent communications between the two leaders, which has been a subject of confusion in recent weeks.

The relationship between the US and India has been strained due to the two countries' differing views on the Russian oil purchase. India's dependence on Russian oil has become a sticking point in trade negotiations, with the US doubling tariffs on India to 50 percent in August. The trade talks stalled in August, and the White House and Indian officials have been at odds over the issue.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied any new conversation between Trump and Modi on Wednesday, contradicting Trump's claim.
  • Indian officials have previously hinted at cutting back on Russian oil purchases but were unable to announce it publicly due to domestic political backlash.
  • The dispute over Russian oil has driven US-India relations to their lowest point in decades.
  • India's main opposition party criticized Modi's response to Trump's comments, saying the prime minister's stature had "shrunk and shrivelled."
  • India's top buyer of Russian oil, Reliance Industries, has purchased $33 billion of the commodity since the war in Ukraine started.
  • Trump's comments about India's inability to wind down its Russian oil purchases "immediately" were met with criticism from Modi's critics.

Statistics:

  • 50 percent: The rate of tariffs imposed by the US on India in August as a penalty for buying Russian oil.
  • 8 percent: The proportion of Moscow's crude sales accounted for by Reliance Industries, India's top buyer of Russian oil.
  • $33 billion: The amount purchased by Reliance Industries of crude oil from Russia since the war in Ukraine started.

Sources:

  • "Indian officials deny new conversation between Trump and Modi on Russian oil", The Washington Post.
  • "US-India trade talks stall after Trump doubles tariffs on India", CNN.
  • "Trump to get China to stop buying Russian oil, says negotiator", The Hindu.
  • "India's main opposition party criticizes Modi's response to Trump's comments", X.

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