The statement came during an interaction with reporters in the Oval Office, where Trump confirmed that discussions on a trade agreement between the two countries are progressing well. When asked if he would visit India in 2026, the President smiled and said, “Yes, possibly.”
Reiterating past claims, Trump said he had helped defuse tensions between India and Pakistan by threatening economic tariffs. “Both are nuclear nations. They were on the verge of war. I told them I’d impose tariffs on both if they fought, and the matter was resolved in 24 hours,” he said.
According to earlier reports, Trump had skipped this year’s Quad Summit in India, citing trade disagreements over New Delhi’s Russian oil imports. His recent remarks come amid ongoing U.S. sanctions aimed at curbing global purchases of Russian crude.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs, however, clarified that no recent conversation took place between Modi and Trump. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s energy policy prioritizes stable prices and secure supply chains, emphasizing diversification of sources “in line with national interests.”
Despite U.S. pressure, Russia remains India’s top oil supplier, accounting for roughly one-third of imports in September 2025. Government refineries have scaled back Russian purchases, while private firms such as Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy continue long-term supply contracts.
Analysts view Trump’s outreach to India as a signal of Washington’s intent to strengthen trade and strategic ties, even as energy cooperation remains a sensitive issue in the evolving U.S.-India relationship.
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