'Don't want to destroy his political career': Donald Trump lauds ‘my friend’ PM Modi

By Admin

17 Oct, 2025

In a recent statement from the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump showered praise on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “great man” and his “friend,” while claiming that India had assured him it would stop buying oil from Russia. Trump described this as a “big step” in mounting pressure on Moscow amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Trump’s Praise for Modi’s Leadership
During his interaction with reporters, Trump highlighted Modi’s long-standing leadership, remarking, “I have watched India for years. It's an incredible country, and every single year you would have a new leader. My friend has been there now for a long time.” Referring to himself in the third person, Trump added humorously, “Modi is a great man. He loves Trump. I don't want to destroy his political career.”

India’s Stand on Energy Security
Following Trump’s comments, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a measured response, reaffirming that India’s energy import decisions are guided by the need to safeguard its consumers amid global volatility. “It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

The statement further emphasized India’s focus on ensuring stable energy prices and secure supplies by diversifying its sources. “Where the US is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing,” the MEA added.

US Concerns Over India’s Russian Oil Imports
Trump expressed that the US was “not happy” about India’s purchase of Russian crude, claiming such imports helped finance Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war. “He (Modi) is a friend of mine, we have a great relationship... we were not happy with him buying oil from Russia because that let Russia continue on with this ridiculous war where they've lost a million and a half people,” he said.

India is currently the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels, behind China, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Trump reiterated that Washington’s goal is to cut off Russia’s war funding, saying, “All we want from President Putin is to stop this, stop killing Ukrainians and stop killing Russians because he's killing a lot of Russians.”

Assurances from India and Future Outlook
According to Trump, PM Modi assured that India would phase out its Russian oil imports soon, though acknowledging that “it’s a little bit of a process.” Trump added, “If India doesn’t buy oil, it makes it much easier, and they’re not going to buy. They assured me they will, within a short period of time, not be buying oil from Russia. And they’ll go back to Russia after the war is over.”

India’s Energy Diversification Strategy
Traditionally dependent on Middle Eastern oil, India currently the world’s third-largest oil importer dramatically increased imports from Russia after the Ukraine invasion in 2022. The discounted crude, made available due to Western sanctions and falling European demand, saw Russian imports surge from less than 1% to nearly 40% of India’s total oil purchases.

However, relations between New Delhi and Washington have faced turbulence since Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, including a 25% additional duty linked to India’s Russian oil imports. India described these actions as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”

Conclusion
Trump’s remarks underline the complex balance between strategic partnerships, energy needs, and global geopolitics. While he continues to praise Modi’s leadership and friendship, the issue of Russian oil imports remains a key point of discussion between the two nations. As global energy dynamics shift, India’s focus on energy security and diversification remains central to its policy aiming to protect national interests while maintaining international partnerships.