Donald Trump has praised India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great man” and called the country “incredible,” saying he’d welcome a quick chat with Modi at the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.
The U.S. president made the comments during a White‑House press briefing, noting that he and Modi share a friendly relationship.
> “Yeah, sure – he’s a friend of mine. We have a great relationship,” Trump said. “He’s a great man. He loves Trump…India is an incredible country, and we’ve watched it for years.”
Trump hinted the meeting could happen on the sidelines of Malaysia’s summit, where leaders from 10 ASEAN countries will gather over several days. The U.S. and India have long worked together on trade, technology, and security issues.
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### U.S. stances on Russian oil and China
Trump also mentioned that India will not buy oil from Russia. He said he had received an “assurance” that the Indian government will stop purchasing Russian crude, and that the U.S. will pressure China to do the same.
The Trump administration added a 25 % tariff on imports of Russian oil from India in August. No similar tariff has been imposed on China, which is Moscow’s largest energy buyer.
Trump added that if India stops buying Russian oil, it will make it easier to end the conflict.
> “Within a short period of time, they will not be buying oil from Russia, and they’ll get that back after the war’s over.”
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### New U.S. ambassador to India
The former U.S. ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, was in the Oval Office during the press briefing. Trump praised him as ready to “do a great job.”
Gor previously met with India’s Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi. He also discussed updating U.S. economic ties, including increased U.S. investment, with Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.
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### India’s trade push
India’s trade negotiating team has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. officials. The Commerce Ministry said India can import an additional $12–$13 bn of crude oil and natural gas from the United States without altering existing refinery configurations. The government aims to diversify its energy mix “at the right price.”
Rajesh Agrawal, India’s chief trade negotiator, is set to join the delegation late Wednesday.
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### Why this matters
The U.S. and India are strengthening economic and security ties. A meeting between Trump and Modi could signal deeper cooperation. Meanwhile, U.S. pressure on Russia and China over oil supplies reflects growing competition in the global energy market. The upcoming trade talks may pave the way for more U.S. investment in India and a broader partnership between the two nations.
For more updates on U.S.–India relations, keep following our coverage.
Source: ianslive
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