US President Donald Trump has announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop buying oil from Russia, writes Politico.
The efforts to stop the flow of Russian oil are a way for the US to put economic pressure on Moscow, which is using energy trade to obtain funds to continue its war in Ukraine. Trump told reporters that he was not happy that India was buying oil from Russia, and noted that India’s refusal to buy the aggressor’s energy resources is a “big step.”
An Indian government spokesman indicated that talks with the US administration, which has expressed interest in cooperating with India in the energy sector, are continuing, writes the BBC. “Our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective,” the government spokesman said.
If India does indeed stop buying Russian oil, it could mean a significant thaw in US-India relations.
This summer, the US imposed a 50% import tariff on Indian goods because the Asian country bought oil from the aggressor. India condemned the tariffs because other Russian oil importers, such as China and Turkey, were not subject to additional tariffs.
Trump said that Russian oil imports would not stop immediately, as it would require some action, but that it would happen soon. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessett, meanwhile, said that the Trump administration could impose additional import tariffs on China if European countries agree to do the same. Bessett accused China of financing Russia’s war machine. Trump has also called on India to impose sanctions on China.
Just days earlier, Trump nominated Sergio Gor, a close Trump ally, as the new US ambassador to India, and he met with Modi to discuss defense, trade and technology issues. The appointment of Gor, a close Trump ally, as ambassador is seen as a positive development.
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