Washington: US President Donald Trump praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “good man” for reducing oil imports from Russia. However, Trump also warned of increasing tariffs on India if it continues to buy Russian oil.
Speaking to the media on Sunday from Air Force One while returning to the White House from West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said, “Modi is a very good man.”
Trump claimed that India has changed its policies after understanding Washington’s displeasure over continued energy purchases from Russia. Initially, Senator Lindsey Graham was responding to questions, but Trump interrupted, saying, “They actually wanted to please me. Yes, Modi is a very good man. He knew I was not happy, and he had to make me happy. They do business, and we can very quickly raise tariffs on that.”
Senator Graham added that American tariff pressure has already forced India to significantly cut its Russian oil imports. This move weakens Moscow’s capacity to continue its war in Ukraine and shows how effective tariffs can be as a foreign policy tool.
Graham credited the 25 percent tariff imposed by Trump on Indian imports of Russian crude oil for the clear results seen so far. He said, “I really believe what we did with India is the main reason they are now buying much less Russian oil.”
President Trump warned that if India changes course, tariff pressure could increase rapidly. He said, “We can raise tariffs on them very fast. The advantage in trade is entirely with America.”
Graham stated that the proposed law would give the President full authority to impose tariffs on countries continuing to buy discounted Russian energy. He remarked, “If you are buying cheap Russian oil to keep Putin’s war machine running, we are trying to give the President the power to make that tough decision.”
The bill, supported by 85 co-sponsors, would allow the President to impose tariffs ranging from zero to 500 percent. Graham said the impact of this approach is already visible.
He also noted, “About a month ago, I was at the Indian ambassador’s residence, and all they wanted to talk about was how they are reducing oil purchases from Russia. It works.”
Comparing his approach with the previous Biden administration, Trump accused Biden of giving large sums to Ukraine, saying, “Biden gave $350 billion. Now we are getting money.”
– (Daily Kiran)
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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