KEY POINTS
- Trump linked defence sales to broader US trade leverage.
- India waited years for US-made Apache attack helicopters.
- New Delhi ordered 68 Apache helicopters from the United States.
- US imposed up to 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods.
- Tariffs include penalties linked to India’s Russian oil purchases.
- Trump warned tariffs could rise if oil imports continue.
- India benefited from discounted Russian crude despite Western sanctions.
ISLAMABAD: United States President Donald Trump has publicly mocked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while recalling a past meeting, linking Washington’s defence sales and punitive tariffs to New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
Speaking at a House Republican members’ retreat, Trump claimed Modi had sought permission to meet him as bilateral talks focused on trade leverage and defence cooperation.
“Prime Minister Modi came to see me — ‘Sir, may I see you please?’” Trump said, drawing attention to what he described as US influence over India.
Defence as leverage
The US president said India had been waiting for nearly five years for US-made Apache attack helicopters and had ordered 68 of them, presenting the deal as part of Washington’s broader strategy to exert economic and strategic pressure.
Trump acknowledged that Modi was unhappy with the tariffs imposed by Washington, particularly those linked to India’s energy trade with Moscow.
“He’s not that happy with me because they’re paying a lot of tariffs now,” Trump said, adding that India had reduced — but not stopped — its imports of Russian oil.
Economic pressure tactics
The United States has imposed cumulative tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent levy specifically tied to India’s purchases of Russian crude.
On Sunday, Trump warned that the tariffs could be raised further if New Delhi failed to significantly curb such imports.
He’s not that happy with me because they’re paying a lot of tariffs now.” – US President Donald Trump
“They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,” Trump said, underlining Washington’s use of trade measures as a pressure tool.
Despite the punitive duties, trade data shows that India’s exports to the United States rose sharply in November, suggesting a limited immediate impact of the tariffs on bilateral trade flows.
Double standards exposed
India emerged as one of the largest beneficiaries of discounted Russian crude oil after Western sanctions were imposed on Moscow following the Ukraine conflict, using the crisis to secure cheap energy supplies while publicly claiming strategic alignment with the West.
Despite projecting itself as a close partner of the United States and a proponent of the so-called “rules-based international order,” New Delhi has continued large-scale oil purchases from Russia, prioritising economic gain over geopolitical commitments.
Indian officials have repeatedly justified the policy under the guise of domestic economic stability, even as global pressure mounted to isolate Moscow.
Washington’s growing reliance on tariffs and trade penalties reflects increasing frustration with India’s duplicity, as New Delhi seeks to balance competing power blocs for its own advantage.
The imposition of higher tariffs underscores underlying mistrust in US–India relations, despite ongoing cooperation in defence, technology and Indo-Pacific security frameworks.
They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly.” – President Trump
The Apache helicopter deal is part of a broader US effort to draw India deeper into its strategic orbit as a counterweight to China.
However, Washington has struggled to reduce India’s long-standing dependence on Russia for energy and military supplies, exposing the limits of the much-touted US–India strategic partnership.
