US President Donald Trump has claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally reached out to him to discuss India’s long-pending defence procurements and ongoing trade-related concerns, while also underscoring what he described as a strong personal relationship between the two leaders.
Speaking at the House GOP Member Retreat, Trump said that India had ordered Apache attack helicopters but had not received them for nearly five years. Recounting the interaction, he claimed that Prime Minister Modi came to meet him directly to raise the issue. Trump narrated the episode in his own words, saying that Modi asked to see him and addressed him respectfully, adding that he agreed to the meeting. Trump went on to say that he shares a very good relationship with the Indian Prime Minister, suggesting a level of personal rapport that goes beyond formal diplomacy.
At the same time, Trump acknowledged that Modi was not entirely pleased with him, particularly over the issue of tariffs. He said that India was paying substantial tariffs and suggested that this had caused some friction. Trump linked Modi’s displeasure to India’s energy trade decisions, remarking that the Indian government was not “doing the oil” in the way Washington wanted. However, he also noted that India had significantly reduced its oil purchases from Russia, describing the reduction as very substantial.
Emphasising the benefits of tariffs for the United States, Trump claimed that tariff revenues were strengthening the American economy. He said the country was “getting rich” because of tariffs and asserted that hundreds of billions of dollars were either already flowing into the US or expected to do so shortly as a result of these measures. According to him, the total amount could exceed 650 billion dollars.
While addressing defence ties alongside trade, Trump again referred to the delays in India’s military acquisitions, with specific mention of Apache helicopters. He said India had been waiting for years to receive the helicopters it had ordered and suggested that the situation was now being corrected. Trump stated that India had ordered 68 Apache helicopters and indicated that changes were being made to move the deal forward, although he did not provide further details.
Earlier in the week, Trump had reiterated that imposing even higher tariffs on India remained a possibility. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he warned that the United States could raise tariffs further if India did not cooperate on the issue of Russian oil purchases. Despite the warning, Trump adopted a more conciliatory tone when speaking about Modi personally. He described the Indian Prime Minister as a good man and said that Modi understood Trump’s dissatisfaction and wanted to address it. Trump added that India engages in trade with the US and that Washington has the ability to raise tariffs very quickly if it chooses to do so.
Trump has already imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on certain Indian goods, including a 25 per cent levy specifically linked to India’s continued imports of Russian oil. These measures are part of a broader US strategy aimed at pressuring countries to reduce or end their energy trade with Moscow.
