Trump Warns India on Tariffs Over Russian Oil, But Calls PM Modi "Good Man"

New York: US President Donald Trump on Monday issued a stark warning to India, saying Washington could hit Indian goods with higher tariffs if New Delhi does not back the US on the Russian oil issue. At the same time, he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi in unusually warm terms, reflecting the complicated nature of ties between the world's two biggest democracies. 

What Did Trump Say to Indian Leaders?

Trump said that the US could "raise tariffs on India very quickly" if New Delhi did not help on concerns related to Russian oil purchases. 

"We could raise tariffs on India if they don't have help on Russian oil issue," he said.

Trump said Modi was "a very good man" and that India understood US displeasure over the oil issue. 

US President said, "They wanted to make me happy, basically... PM Modi's a very good man. He's a good guy. He knew I was not happy. It was important to make me happy. They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly..."

The comments came aboard Air Force One as Trump spoke about broader trade and geopolitical issues. His remarks linked tariff policy directly to India’s continued imports of Russian crude, a source of deep friction between Washington and capitals in Europe and Asia. 

Why Is Russian Oil at the Centre of This Row?

India became one of the world’s top buyers of discounted Russian oil after the Ukraine war broke out in 2022. Western countries, including the US, view these purchases as indirectly supporting Russia’s war efforts. Trump's administration has already doubled tariffs on Indian imports to 50 per cent as punishment for heavy Russian oil purchases.

New Delhi has repeatedly said its energy purchases are driven by market realities and the need to keep costs down for its population of 1.4 billion, not by geopolitical pressure. Indian officials also stressed that they make decisions based on national interest, not ultimatums.