US President Donald Trump has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “not that happy” with him due to the tariffs imposed by Washington on India, particularly linked to New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil.
Speaking at the House Republicans’ annual issues conference retreat in Washington on January 6, President Trump remarked that despite the differences, he continues to share a good personal relationship with the Indian Prime Minister.
“I have a very good relationship with him. He’s not that happy with me because they’re paying a lot of tariffs now… because of the oil. But they’ve reduced it very substantially from Russia,” Trump said.
Tariffs Linked to Russian Oil
Trump stated that the US has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods, including 25% specifically tied to India’s purchases of Russian oil, as part of Washington’s pressure campaign to curb energy trade with Moscow.
He claimed that India has since reduced its oil imports from Russia, though no official figures were cited during his remarks.
Claim on Apache Helicopter Delays
During the same address, Trump also referred to defence procurement, claiming that India has been waiting for Apache attack helicopters for several years.
“India told me they’ve been waiting for five years for the Apaches. We’re changing it… India ordered 68 Apaches,” he said.
The comments come amid ongoing India–US discussions on defence deliveries, trade imbalances, and strategic cooperation, especially in the context of heightened geopolitical tensions and recent military developments in South Asia.
Diplomatic Undertones
While Trump’s remarks were informal in tone, they highlight the strains introduced by tariffs into India–US economic ties, even as both countries continue to expand cooperation in defence, technology, and the Indo-Pacific.
There has been no official response so far from New Delhi regarding Trump’s statements on tariffs or helicopter deliveries.
