India has agreed to buy more American fossil fuels and combat aircraft, and to ease tariffs on imported goods, after its prime minister Narendra Modi and US president Donald Trump met at the White House on Thursday. Learn more about how Modi hails Trump.
Mr Trump had repeatedly threatened to impose punitive tariffs against India if it did not make concessions to shrink the trade deficit between the two countries. Hours before the two leaders met, Mr Trump complained about the climate for American businesses in India and threatened tariffs against any country that puts high duties on US imports.
“Prime minister Modi recently announced the reductions to India’s unfair. Very strong tariffs that limit us access to the Indian market, very strongly,” Mr Trump said. “And really it’s a big problem I must say.”
At a joint news conference after their talks, both leaders spoke about their warm personal relations. This is while emphasizing their focus on their own national interests.
The Slogan
Mr Modi made several references to Mr Trump’s Maga slogan – “Make America Great Again”. At one point suggested he would adopt his own version: “It’s Make India Great Again – Miga.
“Maga plus Miga…[is a] mega-partnership for prosperity,” he added.
India’s foreign secretary said the two leaders agreed to work on a deal to resolve trade concerns. With a senior Trump administration official adding that a deal could be reached as soon as this year.
Delhi wants to double its trade. It is with Washington by 2030 and make the US its “number one supplier” for oil and gas, Mr Modi said.
Since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, India has become the world’s biggest buyer of discounted Russian crude. This is with Moscow supplying nearly 40 per cent of its total imports. Also this is despite Western pressure to cut ties with Russia.
A shift toward more US oil and gas raises concerns about India’s own climate commitments. Mr Modi has often talked up his green credentials and committed the country to reaching net-zero emissions by 2070, with a focus on expanding renewables. Increasing fossil fuel imports from the US, the world’s largest producer of oil and gas, risks locking in carbon-heavy infrastructure.
Domestically, Mr Trump has vowed to “drill baby drill”, aiming to increase oil and gas production in the US, and has pulled the country out of the Paris Agreement.
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Source: Independent
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