Trump Lauds Modi as ‘Great Man’ for Slashing Russian Oil Buys, Signals India Trip in Trade Talks Surge
New Delhi – In a White House press briefing Thursday, United States President Donald Trump spotlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pivotal role in ongoing trade discussions with India, praising him for substantially curtailing oil imports from Russia. Describing Modi as a “great man” and a close ally, Trump hinted at a possible 2026 visit to New Delhi to deepen the strategic partnership between the two democracies.
Fielding questions from journalists, Trump offered an upbeat assessment of the negotiations. “They are going good; he stopped buying oil from Russia largely,” he stated, underscoring Modi’s responsiveness. “He is a friend of mine, and we speak; he wants me to go there [India]. We will figure that out; I will go… Prime Minister Modi is a great man and I will be going…”
Pressed on the specifics of his travel plans, the president replied affirmatively: “It could be, yes.”
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This comes as India persists in its diplomatic push for a bilateral trade pact, even amid steep US-imposed barriers on Indian goods. Exports to America currently grapple with 50 percent tariffs overall—split evenly between 25 percent reciprocal levies and an additional 25 percent sanction linked to New Delhi’s reliance on discounted Russian crude.
The White House has echoed Trump’s optimism. Just this Tuesday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted the administration’s firm backing of the India-US bond during a briefing. She referenced Trump’s recent Oval Office Diwali observance, where he connected directly with Modi to affirm mutual priorities.
Trump’s latest remarks revive assertions he made last month, when he told reporters that Modi had pledged to wind down Russian oil purchases entirely by December’s close. “India, as you know, has told me they are going to stop… It’s a process. You can’t just stop [buying oil from Russia]. By the end of the year, they’ll be down to almost nothing, almost 40 percent of the oil. India, they’ve been great… They’ve been absolutely great,” Trump had said then.
A similar narrative surfaced during Trump’s October Diwali address, where he cited a fresh call with Modi on the oil issue. Yet, India’s Ministry of External Affairs swiftly pushed back, clarifying in an official release: “As far as a telephone or a conversation between the two leaders, there was no phone call between the two leaders yesterday.”
The MEA has consistently maintained that such procurement strategies serve India’s core objectives, balancing energy security with affordability for its citizens.
As trade frictions linger—fueled by America’s push for fairer market access and India’s defense of its diversification efforts—these exchanges signal a potential thaw. With Trump’s re-election fresh in memory, observers watch closely for concrete steps, such as tariff relief or investment pacts, that could redefine this vital economic corridor.