The US president has indicated that he intends to visit New Delhi to negotiate trade
US President Donald Trump claimed on Thursday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “wants him” to travel to the country, as the two nations are negotiating a trade deal.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said his discussions regarding a potential deal with Prime Minister Modi were “going great,” repeating his claim that New Delhi is reducing imports of Russian oil.
“He largely stopped buying from Russia. And he is a friend of mine, and we speak. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a great man. He is a friend of mine, and we speak and he wants me to go there. We will figure that out, I will go… Prime Minister Modi is a great man and I will be going,” Trump said.
Trade talks between India and the US reached an impasse earlier this year, as the South Asian nation was reportedly reluctant to agree to some of Washington’s conditions, including opening its agricultural sector and dairy market to American products.
Washington then imposed a 50% tariff on Indian imports, which included a 25% penalty due to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Earlier this month, India’s Foreign Ministry responded to Trump’s words that it was moving away from Russian oil, reiterating that the country’s energy sourcing decisions are based on national interests and consumer welfare.
Trump had been scheduled to travel to India for an informal Quad meeting; the group includes Australia, India, Japan, and the United States and is largely seen as an attempt to contain China in the region.
India was supposed to host this year’s summit. The New York Times, however, reported in August that the plan has been shelved and Trump will refrain from travelling to India in the wake of new US-imposed tariffs. Meanwhile, the future of the Quad was questioned by commenters in India after Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan last week.
The US president’s reference to the US and China the “G-2” sent shockwaves through New Delhi, with experts hinting that an improvement of ties between Washington and Beijing could be signaling the “death” of the Quad.
