'Close To India... Sanctioned Them': Amid Bonhomie, Trump's Mixed Messaging
Attempting to burnish his credentials as a solver of conflicts, US President Donald Trump said he had imposed "sanctions" on India to help end the war between Russia and Ukraine while simultaneously stating he is very close to New Delhi and PM Modi.
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- From: India News Bull
In an effort to showcase his conflict resolution abilities, US President Donald Trump claimed he had imposed "sanctions" on India to facilitate an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while simultaneously emphasizing his close relationship with New Delhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During a Thursday press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, responding to a question about countries purchasing Russian oil and potentially "squeezing" Vladimir Putin through sanctions, Mr Trump suggested that the Russian president would withdraw from the war if oil prices decreased.
The US President also mentioned his birthday wishes to Prime Minister Modi, noting that the PM had issued a "beautiful statement" in response.
In his characteristic meandering style, Mr Trump stated, "When I found out that the European Nations were buying oil from Russia... And, as you know, I am very close to India, I am very close to the Prime Minister of India. I spoke to him the other day, I wished him a happy birthday. We have a very good relationship. He put out a beautiful statement, too... But I sanctioned them."
Apparently referring to European countries, he added, "China is paying a very large tariff right now to the United States and I am willing to do other things, but not when the people that I am fighting for are buying oil from Russia. If the oil price comes down, very simply, Russia will settle."
These mixed messages emerge amid an apparent improvement in India-US relations following tensions over the 50% tariffs, including a "penalty" for purchasing Russian oil that Mr Trump announced in July.
Bilateral trade agreement discussions between the two countries took place on Tuesday, with both sides describing them as positive. The commerce ministry also indicated that both nations had decided to intensify efforts to reach an early conclusion on the trade deal.
Later that day, Mr Trump posted that he had wished PM Modi a happy birthday and, departing from the position taken by some in his administration that India was helping "fund" the Ukraine war by purchasing Russian oil, thanked the Prime Minister for his efforts to end the conflict.
"Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine! President DJT," he wrote.
Prime Minister Modi responded by stating his commitment to elevating the India-US partnership to new heights, and also referenced Ukraine.
"Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday. Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict," he said.