Lindsey Graham's assertion regarding India coincides with US President Donald Trump threatening to impose further taxes on New Delhi due to its ongoing imports of Russian oil.
On Sunday, US Senator Lindsey Graham made the startling assertion that Vinay Mohan Kwatra, the Indian ambassador to the US, had asked the Trump administration to remove the extra 25% price it imposes on New Delhi for buying Russian oil last month.
Graham told reporters on Air Force One with Trump that Kwatra had contacted him last month and begged him to advise Donald Trump to remove the US tariffs because India is now purchasing less Russian oil.
When I visited the Indian Ambassador's home a month ago, all he wanted to discuss was how India is purchasing less Russian oil. Graham added, "And he asked me to advise the President to remove the 25% tariff.
Graham's assertions that India has reduced its purchases of Russian oil, however, have not been formally verified by New Delhi.
Trump's latest caution to India
Lindsey Graham's assertion regarding India coincides with US President Donald Trump threatening to impose further taxes on New Delhi due to its ongoing imports of Russian oil.
"PM Modi is an excellent individual. He's a decent man. He was aware of my unhappiness. Making me happy was vital. They engage in trade, and we can swiftly increase duties on them," Trump declared.
While New Delhi has defended its oil purchases as necessary for domestic energy security, Trump's latest warning to India coincides with increased scrutiny in Washington on India's energy trade with Russia.
The remarks also coincide with a phone call between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, in which both leaders emphasized the significance of sustaining momentum in bilateral trade ties amid persistent tariff-related issues.
In an effort to end the protracted trade standoff, Indian and US officials began a new round of negotiations at the same time as the call. Trump had threatened to levy fresh taxes on Indian rice imports just days prior to the meeting with Modi.
The warning came after a US farmer representative complained about alleged dumping by China, Thailand, and India at a White House roundtable.
In the meantime, oil is once again at the center of geopolitics because to the recent US strike on Venezuela. With approximately 303 billion barrels of oil, Venezuela has the greatest proven oil reserves in the world. However, underinvestment and US sanctions have reduced production to one million barrels per day. According to OPEC data, Venezuela has the greatest proven oil reserves in the world (estimated at over 300 billion barrels), which account for over 17% of the world's total oil supply.
0 Comments