PM Modi and Donald Trump to meet soon? 'I'm sure...' says US official

PM Modi and Donald Trump to meet soon: Amid the ongoing conflict between US and India over trade, tariffs and Russian oil, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President Donald Trump are expected to meet soon. According to a senior White House official, relations between India and the US have started to take an upward trajectory. 

The senior White House official in his statement to ANI, said, “I’m sure you’ll see the two meet. They have a very, very positive relationship. We’ve got Quad Summit and we’re working on planning. At some point that will happen, if not this year, then next year.” 

The officials further stated that a possible meeting between the US President and PM Modi is currently being planned and that dates related to the same will be finalised soon. The official said, “So there’s a lot coming up on the US-India relationship, and I think we’ll see some continuous positive momentum.” 

India-US conflict over Russian oil trade

It is to be noted here that India-US conflict started after Trump imposed additional tariff on India, further increasing to 50 per cent, to punish India for purchasing Russian oil. 

Notably, the US president has also blamed India for “fuelling the Russian war on Ukraine” by purchasing oil from Moscow.

Amid the ongoing conflict between India and US, both the countries are showing positive signs of resolution. Notably, Trump also called PM Modi his “great friend”, several times. He had also stated earlier that the US is committed to settling trade differences with India.

‘Don’t want to punish India’

On the other front, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright called on India to reconsider its Russian oil trade on Wednesday. Further adding that India has several other alternative sources to purchase oil. Wright added, “We don’t want to punish India. You can buy oil from every nation on the earth, just not Russian oil. That’s our position. America has oil to sell, so does everybody else,” .

He further added, “There are lots of oil exporters in the world. India doesn’t need to buy Russian oil. India buys Russian oil because it is cheaper. Nobody wants to buy Russian oil; they have to sell it at a discount.”