• Source:JND
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US President Donald Trump, in his state visit to the United Kingdom, gave a combination of praise and condemnation about India, showcasing the complex nature of his foreign policy. Discussing his relationship with India, Trump repeatedly emphasised his close ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "When I learned that the European countries were purchasing oil from Russia… And, as you understand, I am close to India, very close to the Prime Minister of India. I called him the other day, I wished him a happy birthday. We have a good relationship. He issued a lovely statement, too… But I sanctioned them," Trump added, in comments that blended praise with policy choices.

Trump's Birthday Call

Earlier on Wednesday,Trump went to Truth Social to post about his birthday call with PM Modi, saying, "Had a great phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a great job. Narendra: Thanks for your help regarding ending the War between Russia and Ukraine! President DJT."

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The US President's remarks came after he criticised European countries for still buying Russian oil. He claimed that the purchase of oil from Moscow dents the efforts to isolate Russia as the war in Ukraine rages on. Trump insisted time and again on how necessary it is to bring down global oil prices, claiming, "If the oil price comes down, very simply, Russia will settle."

Mixed Signals

While Trump criticised India's buying of oil from Russia and imposed a 50 per cent tariff on imports in certain cases, he emphasised a close personal relationship with Modi and referred to their bilateral relations as strong. He suggested that tensions like these could co-exist with personal diplomacy, demonstrating the complexity of US-India relations.

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Path Ahead For US-India Ties

The contradictory signals on India are at an important juncture. Trade tensions, especially on imports of Russian oil, have strained US-India economic ties. However, both countries have indicated a willingness to cooperate. Negotiations for a bilateral trade deal were also held on Tuesday, which were termed as good. India and the US have agreed to make an extra push to conclude the trade deal at an early date, demonstrating that diplomacy continues despite policy inconsistencies.