Trump has increased pressure on India this year by imposing a total of 50% tariffs on its exports to the US-25%
Modi Pledged India Will Stop Russian Oil Imports: Trump. US President Donald Trump announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to stop buying oil from Russia. The move marks a significant step in Washington’s global campaign to reduce Moscow’s energy revenues amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
At a White House press conference, Trump said he would now turn his attention to persuading China to halt similar purchases.
“I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump stated. “That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”
It is pertinent to mention that Trump had threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Apple over the production of iPhones in India.
India & China: Key Buyers of Russian Oil
India and China are Russia’s top seaborne crude oil customers. They have taken advantage of steep discounts offered after Western sanctions reduced European demand. In September alone, India imported around 1.62 million barrels per day from Russia-nearly one-third of its total crude requirement.
Indian officials had previously defended these imports as essential for energy security and affordability in a developing economy. However, Trump acknowledged that any shift would take time.
“It’s a little bit of a process, but that process will be over soon,” he noted.
Tariffs & Diplomatic Pressure
Trump has increased pressure on India this year by imposing a total of 50% tariffs on its exports to the US-25% after failed trade talks and another 25% in response to continued oil imports from Russia. India has reportedly called these tariffs unfair, especially since other major buyers like China and Turkey have not faced similar penalties.
The announcement came shortly after Trump’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, met Modi in New Delhi to discuss defense, trade, and technology. Gor, a close Trump ally, is expected to play a central role in shaping U.S.-India relations.
Japan Also Pressed to Cut Russian Energy Imports
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed that he urged Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato to stop buying Russian energy. The two met recently in Washington.
“Minister Kato and I also discussed important issues… and the administration’s expectation that Japan stop importing Russian energy,” Bessent posted on X (formerly Twitter).
So far, both Japan and the Indian Embassy in Washington have declined to publicly confirm any commitments.
Trump Touts Global & Domestic Achievements
During the press briefing, Trump also highlighted what he described as major international achievements. He claimed credit for avoiding global conflicts and reducing tensions in critical regions.
“I stopped eight wars, also met the Prime Minister of Pakistan,” Trump said. He mentioned the shooting down of seven planes in the Indo-Pak war in May and added that Pakistan’s Prime Minister once credited him with helping “save millions of lives.”
He also declared that peace had been established in the Middle East “after 3,000 years” and claimed that Russia has suffered heavy military losses in Ukraine.
Crackdown on Crime: ‘Operation Summer Heat’
Turning to domestic matters, Trump praised the results of Operation Summer Heat, a federal initiative aimed at curbing violent crime.
“Important successes were achieved in Operation Summer Heat,” Trump said. “We’ve made Washington the safest city in America.”
He criticized conditions in cities like Chicago, where 11 people were killed last week, and vowed to eliminate crime nationwide.
“The law and order situation in some cities is worse than war zones,” he warned. “We’ve launched a war against criminals based on the people’s mandate.”
