Donald Trump, the president of the US, is once again making news for his strong words. At a recent campaign event, Donald Trump said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him in person that India would soon stop buying oil from Russia. The statement went viral online right away, but political experts and diplomatic insiders think this may be another example of Trump’s exaggeration—a mix of hyperbole and political showmanship meant to get his followers excited.
What Trump Said Stirs Up Discontent
“I talked with Prime Minister Modi,” Trump told a crowd of cheering people. He told me that India would no longer buy oil from Russia. The claim got a lot of attention around the world right away, especially since India has had energy ties with Russia for a long time. India has always said that importing oil is in the country’s best interest because it needs cheap energy to keep its economy growing.
But officials in New Delhi have not confirmed that such a promise was made. The Ministry of External Affairs has been quiet about Trump’s comment, not wanting to make a clear response.
India’s Plan for Oil: For the sake of national interest
India bought a lot more oil from Russia after the war between Russia and Ukraine started because Moscow was willing to sell India cheaper oil to keep trade going. This choice helped keep fuel prices stable in India. Experts say that India’s foreign policy is still independent and that the country’s relationships with the US, Russia, and Europe are balanced based on strategic needs rather than pressure from other countries.
Political experts say that India values its relationship with the United States, but the country probably won’t change its energy policy quickly because of pressure from outside sources, especially if it comes from a campaign statement.
A Pattern of Making Things Up?
It’s not the first time Trump has been in the news for making big claims about world leaders. A lot of the time, what he says isn’t clear between political speech and facts. Analysts think that he is making these kinds of comments to show how influential he is seen to be around the world before the US presidential elections.
There is no truth to what Trump said about Modi’s promise, even though it made for a catchy soundbite. India buys oil from Russia because it makes economic and military sense to do so, not because of political theater. Trump keeps making big claims to get people’s attention, but New Delhi is still focused on having an independent, fair, and national-interest-first foreign policy.
