Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday highlighted defence cooperation between India and the United States, claiming that the delivery of 68 Apache attack helicopters ordered by India was delayed by nearly five years. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally raised the issue with him during a meeting.

Speaking at the House GOP Member Retreat, Trump pointed to what he described as prolonged delays in defence supplies and said his administration was working to address them.

"India coming at me that thay have been waiting for 5 years and we are changing that.India ordered 68 Apache helicopters. PM Modi came to me and said 'Sir can I please see you?' and I said yes," he said. 

Trump also spoke about his personal rapport with the Indian Prime Minister, while acknowledging Modi’s dissatisfaction over tariffs imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil.

"I have a very good relationship with PM Modi, but he is not happy with me as India is paying high tariffs. But now they have reduced it very substantially, buying oil from Russia..."

The tariffs, amounting to 50 per cent, were imposed by Washington over India’s continued purchases of Russian oil, which the US argues supports Russia’s economy amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Trump’s comments came a day after he warned that the United States could impose additional tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi does not address American concerns related to Russian oil imports.

Reiterating his stance, Trump suggested that India had taken steps to ease tensions with Washington.

"They wanted to make me happy, basically. Modi is a very good man; he is a good guy. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy."

During his address, Trump also defended his tariff policy, asserting that the measures were financially beneficial for the United States.

The US President has repeatedly cautioned New Delhi over its energy trade with Moscow, directly linking the issue to the Ukraine war. He has accused India of bolstering Russia’s economy by purchasing discounted crude and has used tariffs as leverage to influence India’s stance.

At the same time, Trump has projected himself as a potential mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, holding discussions with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though without any tangible breakthrough so far.

India, however, has earlier rejected Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Modi had assured him of halting Russian oil purchases, clarifying that no such assurance or conversation had taken place. (ANI)