US Issues Notice On Additional 25% Tariffs On India

By Deepak Arora

WASHINGTON: The Donald Trump administration has officially issued a notice regarding the imposition of an additional 25 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, with the punitive duties set to kick in at 12:01 am (EST) on August 27. The notice, issued by the Department of Homeland Security, stated the new levies were in response to "threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation," and India was being targeted as part of that policy....more

India must take Trump's point over Russian oil seriously; Find solution with White House: Nikki Haley

By Deepak Arora

NEW YORK: Donald Trump's Indian-American Republican colleague, Nikki Haley, on Sunday warned India over its Russian oil imports and asked to work on a solution with the White House "sooner the better". According to her, "decades of friendship" would provide a basis to "move past the turbulence" - referring to the ongoing tariff tensions....more

Trump may not visit India for Quad summit this year: NYT

NEW YORK, Aug 31: New Delhi had in June said that US President Donald Trump had accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to visit India for the Quad Leaders’ Summit later this year, but according to a New York Times report Trump may not be visiting India this fall. There is, however, no confirmation from New Delhi or Washington on the proposed visit.

Both countries were expected to complete the negotiations over the bilateral trade agreement and wrap up the deal during Trump’s visit to India. India was one of the first countries to start discussions over a trade deal with the US way back in February, but President Trump has taken exception to India’s purchase of Russian oil and levied an extra 25 per cent tariff on top of the reciprocal tariff of 25 per cent imposed on India.

US halted talks and held back from sending its team to New Delhi for another round of negotiations scheduled on August 25. Sources in the Commerce and Industry Ministry in New Delhi too said it was not practical to hold trade talks with the additional 25 per cent tariffs being imposed on India’s exports to the US.

As per a NYT report on Saturday, which cited people aware of the President’s schedule, “After telling (Indian Prime Minister Narendra) Mr Modi that he would travel to India later this year for the Quad summit, Mr. Trump no longer has plans to visit in the fall, according to people familiar with the president’s schedule.”

The report also claims that it was the June 17 phone call between Modi and Trump, after the US President made a hasty exit from the G7 Summit in Canada’s Kananaskis, which soured things between them. President Trump had asked Modi if he would come to the US on his way back from Canada, but the Prime Minister cited his inability to do so citing prior engagements.

In the days after the ceasefire in hostilities between India and Pakistan on May 10, President Trump had made repeated claims about having “solved” the war.

New Delhi had repeatedly set the record straight, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) saying that it was after a call from the Pakistan DGMO to the Indian side, that the cessation of military action was announced.

However, President Trump repeated his claims publicly on many occasions, despite New Delhi’s statement, even claiming he threatened both India and Pakistan over trade, which forced them to stop the war.

“During a phone call on June 17, Trump brought it up again, saying how proud he was of ending the military escalation,” says the NYT report, “He mentioned that Pakistan was going to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize, an honour for which he had been openly campaigning. The not-so-subtle implication, according to people familiar with the call, was that Modi should do the same.”

As per a statement by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri after the 35-minute phone call on June 17, which he said was the “first” between the two leaders since April 22, “Prime Minister Modi clearly conveyed to President Trump that at no point during this entire sequence of events was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US Trade Deal, or any proposal for a mediation by the US between India and Pakistan. The discussion to cease military action took place directly between India and Pakistan through the existing channels of communication between the two armed forces, and it was initiated at Pakistan’s request.”

Misri said, “Prime Minister Modi firmly stated that India does not and will never accept mediation. There is complete political consensus in India on this matter.” The statement however, said, Vice President J D Vance had made a phone call to Prime Minister Modi on May 9, conveying that Pakistan may launch a major attack on India. “Prime Minister Modi had conveyed to him in clear terms that if such an action were to occur, India would respond with an even stronger response,” Misri said.

The dispute has played out against the backdrop of the ongoing trade talks. The NYT report also claims that “his (the Indian Prime Minister’s) officials were scandalized that Mr. Trump might try to force their leader into a handshake with Pakistan’s army chief, who had also been invited to the White House for lunch around the same time.”

Russia-Ukraine conflict is 'Modi's war': Trump Adviser

WASHINGTON, Aug 28: Hours after US President Donald Trump's crippling 50 per cent tariff on India came into effect, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro labelled the Russia-Ukraine conflict "Modi's war," claiming it was New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian energy that was fuelling Moscow's military aggression.

Pressuring India to halt Russian trade, he said New Delhi could see a 25 per cent reduction in US tariffs if it stops buying discounted crude from Moscow.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Navarro referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, "I mean Modi's war because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi."

The remarks came after Trump's 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods took effect earlier Wednesday, a bid the US President has linked to New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil. It doubled the existing 25 per cent US duty imposed earlier this month.

Navarro claimed Moscow used money from New Delhi's 'discounted' crude purchase to "fund its war machine." That, in turn, has taxed US resources in the form of requests from Kyiv for arms and funding, he argued.

"Everybody in America loses because of what India is doing. The consumers and businesses and everything lose, and workers lose because India's high tariffs cost us jobs, and factories, and income and higher wages. And then the taxpayers lose because we got to fund Modi's war," Navarro said

"India can get 25 per cent off tomorrow if it stops buying Russian oil and helped to feed the war machine," Navarro said.

The 50 per cent duty on India is the highest reciprocal levy imposed by the US on any Asian nation. It will hit more than 55 per cent of Indian goods shipped to the United States-- India's biggest export market. Although several key products, such as electronics and pharmaceuticals, have been exempted for now, the duties have affected scores of labour-intensive industries, including textiles and jewellery.

"What's troubling to me is that the Indians are so arrogant about this. They say, 'Oh, we don't have higher tariffs. Oh, it's our sovereignty. We can buy oil from anyone we want...India, you're the biggest democracy in the world, OK, act like one," Navarro said.

The US imposed punitive levies on India despite months of talks between New Delhi and Washington. While India was one of the first nations to enter tariff talks with the Trump team, the two nations have not been able to reach a deal so far.

The Trump adviser accused New Delhi of helping Moscow's war effort. "By purchasing Russian oil at a discount, Russia uses the money it gets to fund its war machine to kill more Ukrainians," he said, echoing the US President's similar remarks on the issue.

Trump Says Spoke With Modi To Stop Conflict with Pak

WASHINGTON, Aug 27: US President Donald Trump once again doubled down on his claim of playing a catalyst in the truce between India and Pakistan following military conflict in May. The American President claimed he personally intervened between the two nuclear-powered neighbours and used trade and tariff threats to force Prime Minister Narendra Modi into agreeing to a ceasefire with Islamabad.

"I am talking to a very terrific man, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. I said, What's going on with you and Pakistan? The hatred was tremendous," Trump said, recounting his supposed exchange with Modi.

India has dismissed Trump's claims and consistently maintained that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries.

The US President claimed tensions between India and Pakistan have been going on "for a hell of a long time, like, sometimes with different names for hundreds of years."

India and Pakistan only became independent states in 1947, when the British decided to end their 200-year-long rule in the Indian subcontinent and to divide it into two separate nations. Before that, the area was divided into several smaller kingdoms.

Trump claimed that to broker a peace between the two Asian neighbours, he threatened PM Modi with Washington holding back trade and slapping New Delhi with high tariffs.

"I said, I don't want to make a trade deal with you...You guys are going to end up in a nuclear war...I said, call me back tomorrow, but we're not going to do any deals with you, or we're going to put tariffs on you that are so high, your head's going to spin," he said.

The Republican added that New Delhi and Islamabad reached a peace deal within "five hours" of his talks with PM Modi.

"Within about five hours, it was done...Now maybe it starts again. I don't know. I don't think so, but I'll stop it if it does. We can't let these things happen," he added.

'There is still no trade deal with India': US Official

WASHINGTON, Aug 27: As the tariff tension between India and the US escalated further on Wednesday, with an additional 25 per cent penalty on New Delhi, over its purchase of Russian oil and defence equipment, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has expressed confidence in India-US ties.

In an interview to Fox Business, he said, "I do think India's the world's largest democracy, the US is the world's largest economy. I think at the end of the day we will come together."

Throwing light on the status of the trade deal between the two countries, he said that "we still don't have a deal", adding that India's stance regarding the talks had been "performative", and although it was expected that the trade deal will come through by May or June, India has taken a measured approach towards the agreement.

"The Indians came in early after Liberation Day to start negotiating on tariffs and we still don't have a deal. I thought we would have a deal by May or June. I thought India could be our earlier deals and they tapped us along in terms of negotiations. There's also that aspect of Russian crude purchases which they have been profiteering on," he said.

Bessent also explained that US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have a "very good rapport at the top level". He said, "This is a complicated relationship. President Trump and Prime Minister Modi have a very good rapport at the top level, but it's not just about Russian oil."

Regarding bilateral trade, Bessent reiterated Trump's stance and said that US had a large trade deficit with India and when there is a "schism" in trade relations, the 'deficit' country is at an advantage and the 'surplus' country "should worry".

"The US is the deficit country. When there is a schism in trade relations, the deficit country's at an advantage. It's the surplus country that should worry. So, the Indians are selling to us. They have very high tariffs and we have a very large deficit with them," the Treasury Secretary said.

While answering whether he is worried about India setting the trade in rupee, he pointed out that the Indian rupee is at an all-time low against the US dollar and remarked, "A lot of things I worry about. The rupee becoming the reserve currency isn't one of them."

U.S. accuses India of profiteering from Russian oil during Ukraine war

WASHINGTON, Aug 19: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday accused India of profiteering from cheap Russian oil imports during the war in Ukraine, describing the practice as “arbitrage” and condemning it as unacceptable.

“They are just profiteering. They are reselling,” Bessent told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” in an interview. “This is what I would call the Indian arbitrage — buying cheap Russian oil, reselling it as product.”

“They’ve made $16 billion in excess profits — some of the richest families in India,” Bessent said.

India buys Russian oil at a discount due to sanctions, refines it into gasoline and diesel, and then sells the product back to regions that have sanctioned Moscow such as Europe, said Matt Smith, an oil market analyst at Kpler.

India’s imports of Russian oil have surged since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Before the attack, India imported a minuscule amount of Russian crude.

India is now Russia’s biggest customer importing 1.5 million barrels per day in July, according to data from Kpler. China is the second-largest buyer of Russian oil, importing about 1 million bpd last month.

President Donald Trump earlier this month ordered an additional 25% tariff on India’s exports to the U.S. to punish New Delhi for buying Russian oil. The tariffs take effect next week.

Trump is threatening what he calls “secondary tariffs” on Russian oil buyers like India to pressure the Kremlin to reach a negotiated settlement with Ukraine. So far, however, the U.S. has spared China from secondary tariffs over its imports of Russian crude.

When asked about China’s imports, Bessent suggested that Beijing’s imports were less egregious in the eyes of the Trump administration because it was also a major buyer before Russia invaded Ukraine.

But India actually started purchasing Russian oil in a major way at the behest of the U.S., said Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy and a former advisor to President George W. Bush.

The Biden administration had asked India to accept Russian crude as other countries imposed bans in order to prevent a major oil price spike after the invasion of Ukraine that would result in high gasoline prices in the U.S., McNally told CNBC.

“India played a key role in the price cap sanction mechanism designed by the U.S. and its European allies to ensure Russian oil still flowed while trying to crimp the revenue Moscow earned,” McNally said.

'Sure, I'll Meet Zelensky': Putin Ready For Direct Russia-Ukraine Talks, Rubio Confirms

WASHINGTON, Aug 19: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Russian President Vladimir Putin told his US counterpart Donald Trump that he was willing to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Rubio highlighted that the fact that Putin is ready to meet Zelensky after three years of war, is a "big deal".

"But just the fact that Putin is saying, sure, I'll meet with Zelenskyy - that's a big deal. I mean, I'm not saying they're going to leave that room best friends. I'm not saying they're going to leave that room with a peace deal. But I think the fact that people are now talking to each other, this wasn't happening for three and a half years. This was a stalemated war of death and destruction," Rubio said in an interview to Fox News.

The Secretary of State provided further information and said that they are working towards a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, and if that goes well, there will be a trilateral meeting with Trump too, he said, "where we hope to finalise a deal", adding, "We're not there yet, but that's what we're aiming towards and that's one of the things that was discussed today, is how to get to that point."

Rubio also said that expecting one side to get 100 per cent is unrealistic and stressed that both the parties need to compromise. "Both sides will have to give and receive. One side getting 100 per cent is surrender", he said.

Earlier today, Trump wrote on Truth Social, "At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself."

The US president also said he had discussed security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace deal with Russia, with Europe taking the lead and coordinating with Washington.

Trump said earlier that Putin had agreed to Western security guarantees for Ukraine, despite the Russian leader ruling out Kyiv's long-held dream of joining the NATO alliance.

Zelensky also met one-on-one in the Oval Office with Trump in their first encounter in the heart of the US presidency since their acrimonious blow-up there in February.

The Ukrainian president said the meeting was their "best" yet.

Trump Says Will Hold Meeting With Putin, Zelensky If 'Everything Works Out Well'

WASHINGTON, Aug 19: US President Donald Trump said Monday that if his meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky went well he expected to hold a trilateral meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin with the objective of ending the Ukraine-Russia war.

"We're going to have a meeting. I think if everything works out well today we'll have a trilat and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that," said Trump, sitting alongside Zelensky at the White House.

'Reasonable Chance Of Ending War': Trump Meets Zelensky At White House

WASHINGTON, Aug 18: Days after he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump welcomed his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House to discuss a path for the resolution of the conflict between the two countries.

After receiving Zelensky outside the White House, Trump greeted him with a warm handshake and also put his arm around his shoulder.

Dressed in a 'military-style' suit, Zelensky thanked the US President's wife, Melania, for her letter to Putin on the plight of children in the war and asking him to protect their innocence. Zelensky also gave Trump a letter written by his wife, Olena Zelenska, for Melania Trump.

To a question on a resolution to the war, which began in 2022, Trump said there is a "reasonable chance" of ending it.

"If everything goes well today, we will have a trilateral (with Mr Putin) and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that... People are being killed, and we want to stop that... I know the president (Zelensky), myself and, I believe, Vladimir Putin want to see it ended," he said.

The Ukrainian president welcomed the idea of a trilateral and said his country needs US and European support to bring the war to an end.

Commending Zelensky's suit in a light-hearted moment, Trump then stuck to an apparent change of heart that he had after his meeting with Putin and said a ceasefire was not necessary.

"I don't think you need a ceasefire. If you look at the six deals I settled this year, they were all at war, I did not do any ceasefire. I know that it might be good to have, but I can also understand, strategically, why one country or the other wouldn't want it. You have a ceasefire and they rebuild and rebuild and rebuild, and maybe they don't want that... We can work a deal where we are working on a peace deal while they are fighting... I would like them to stop but, strategically, that could be a disadvantage for one side or the other," he said.

European leaders to join Zelensky at White House meeting with Trump

WASHINGTON, Aug 17: European leaders have said they will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.

It comes after Trump failed to reach a deal on ending the war in Ukraine during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

The US president has since said he wants to bypass securing a ceasefire in Ukraine in favour of a permanent peace agreement.

Those travelling to Washington include Sir Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, French President Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Securing a ceasefire in Ukraine had been one of Trump's core demands before meeting Putin, but he afterwards posted on social media that they "often times do not hold up" and that it would be better "to go directly to a peace agreement".

European leaders have reacted with caution to the outcome of the Trump-Putin meeting, seeking not to criticise the change of direction despite their long-held support for a ceasefire.

Putin reportedly presented Trump with a peace offer that would require Ukraine withdrawing from the Donetsk region of the Donbas, in return for Russia freezing the front lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

Russia claims the Donbas as Russian territory, controlling most of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk. It also illegally annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014, eight years before launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's president has previously ruled out ceding control of the Donbas - composed of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions - saying it could be used as a springboard for future Russian attacks.

Trump Calls Zelenskiy, European Leaders After Putin Talks

WASHINGTON, Aug 16: US President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and a group of European leaders from Air Force One to brief them on his meeting with Vladimir Putin.

The European officials welcomed the US president’s diplomatic efforts while repeating their calls for a trilateral meeting between Trump, Russia’s president and Zelenskiy, according to people familiar with the discussion.

They reiterated that it will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory, and that the current line of contact must be the starting point of negotiations.

The leaders also reaffirmed during a call that lasted over an hour that Kyiv needs robust security guarantees to ensure that any peace deal holds and committed to continuing to provide Ukraine with military assistance.

The topic of holding a trilateral summit between Putin, Trump and Zelenskiy hasn’t been raised, Russia’s state TV channel Vesti reported, citing Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.

Trump and Putin each described their meeting in Alaska on Friday as productive, but the US president indicated that a path to end the war, well into its fourth year, had still not been finalized.

Trump says 'no deal' but progress made after Ukraine talks with Putin

ALASKA, Aug 16: Donald Trump says "there's no deal until there's a deal" but progress was made in Ukraine talks with Vladimir Putin

"We didn't get there," he says in an update to the press after an almost three-hour meeting with his Russian counterpart in Alaska "I've always had a fantastic relationship with President Putin. Vladimir," Trump says, switching to the president's first name.

He calls their meeting "extremely productive," but adds that some things are still to be decided.

But we have a "very good chance" of further progress, he says.

Trump says he and Putin had a productive meeting and that they made "some headway".

He says he will call Nato allies and others, including Ukraine's Zelensky. He says a deal is "ultimately" up to them and they will have to agree.

Putin says that he hopes the Ukrainians and Europeans choose to "not throw a wrench in" the peace process.

"I would like to thank Trump for the well-wishing tone," says Putin, adding that "both sides should be results oriented".

"Trump clearly cares about the prosperity of his nation. But understands Russia has its own interests," he says.

The central issue of their discussion was the Ukraine conflict, Putin says.

He adds that in order to make a "settlement lasting and long-term we need to eliminate the primary causes of the conflict", without detailing what he means.

He notes there have been no summits between the two countries for a few years and says bilateral relations had "fallen to the lowest point since the Cold War".

He says it was time to move from confrontation to dialogue, and calls the meeting "long overdue".

He says he and Trump have had a number of "frank" phone calls, and notes that Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has also kept the dialogue going.

Putin says that both the US and Russia, "though separated by the oceans, are close neighbours".

"They're only 4 km apart. We're close neighbours, and that's a fact," he continues.

For this reason, he told Trump "hello, neighbour," when they shook hands on the tarmac earlier today, he says.

Putin goes on to describe the history of Alaska, which was part of Russia's territory before it was sold to the US in the mid-1800s.

He notes the presence of Russian Orthodox churches in the US state, telling reporters: "I'm sure this heritage will help us rebuild and foster mutually beneficial and equal ties."

Trump ends by saying he will "probably" see the Russian leader again soon - Putin responds: "Next time in Moscow".

India Tariffs 'Probably' Played Role In Putin Agreeing To Meet: Trump

WASHINGTON, Aug 14: In an interview with Fox News Radio, US President Donald Trump said that the secondary tariffs against India may have influenced Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet him. "Everything has an impact," he added, saying that secondary tariffs against India "essentially took them out of buying oil from Russia."

Earlier this month, Trump ordered steeper tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil. This takes the level to 50 percent for many products - among the highest on any American trading partner.

Trump further implied that the tariffs on India "probably" had a role in Putin agreeing to meet. "Certainly, when you lose your second largest customer and you're probably going to lose your first largest customer, I think that probably has a role," he said.

While India has emerged as a key partner for Washington in its strategic rivalry with China in recent years, its large US trade surplus and close relations with Russia-- which Trump was seeking to pressure into agreeing to a peace agreement with Ukraine-- have made New Delhi a prime target in the Republican president's global tariff offensive.

New Delhi called the tariffs "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable," vowing to "take all actions necessary to protect its national interests."

Answering if he would provide "economic incentives" to Russia in order to stop fighting in Ukraine, he said that he would not "want to play my hand in public".

Trump repeatedly stressed on the fact that he was primarily interested in an "immediate peace deal" and that if the meeting amounts to something, he said he would immediately call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to "get him over to wherever we are going to meet."

He said the main goal of the Alaska summit was to set up a second meeting - with Zelenskyy - to make a deal, comparing it to "a chess game." He also mentioned that he stopped six wars this year. "[Ukraine] was going to be one of my easy ones - but it turned out the most difficult. I inherited it from Joe Biden", he added.

Trump will host Putin at talks in Alaska on Friday that the US president has said will serve as a "feel-out" meeting in his efforts to end the Russo-Ukraine war. Trump agreed last week to the first US-Russia summit since 2021, abruptly shifting course after weeks of voicing frustration with Putin for resisting the US peace initiative.

The unpredictability of how the summit will play out has fuelled European fears that the US and Russian leaders could take far-reaching decisions and even seek to coerce Ukraine into an unfavourable deal.

Trump Warns Of 'Severe Consequences' If Putin Continues Ukraine War After Summit

WASHINGTON, Aug 13: US President Donald Trump said Wednesday there will be "very severe consequences" if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't agree to stop the Ukraine war after Friday's summit.

Trump was "very clear" in a virtual meeting Wednesday with European leaders that the US wants to achieve a ceasefire at the upcoming US-Russia summit in Alaska, French President Emmanuel Macron said.

In the same meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he told the group that Putin "is bluffing" ahead of the planned meeting with Trump.

Putin, Zelensky said, "is trying to apply pressure ... on all sectors of the Ukrainian front" in an attempt to show that Russia is "capable of occupying all of Ukraine."

Putin is also bluffing about sanctions, "as if they do not matter to him and are ineffective. In reality, sanctions are very helpful and are hitting Russia's war economy hard," Zelensky said.

Speaking after the video conference between Trump, Zelensky and other European leaders, Macron said Trump was prioritising a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. He added that Trump had been clear that "territorial issues relating to Ukraine ... will only be negotiated by the Ukrainian president."

Following his meeting Friday with the Russian leader, Trump will also "seek a future trilateral meeting" - one involving Trump, Putin and Zelensky, Macron said.

"I think that's a very important point in this regard. And we hope that it can be held in Europe, in a neutral country that is acceptable to all parties," Macron said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had convened the virtual meetings in an attempt to make sure European and Ukraine's leaders are heard ahead of the summit, where Trump and Putin are expected to discuss a path toward ending Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Speaking alongside Zelensky, who traveled to Berlin Wednesday to take part in the meetings, Merz described the meeting with Trump as "constructive" and said that "important decisions" could be made in Anchorage, but stressed that "fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests must be protected" at the summit.

Zelensky and the Europeans have been sidelined from that summit. German government spokesperson Steffen Meyer said the intention of Wednesday's meetings was to "make clear the position of the Europeans."

A call among leaders of countries involved in the "coalition of the willing" - those who are prepared to help police any future peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv - was expected to take place later Wednesday.

What US Said On India Ties After Pak Army Chief Asim Munir's Nuke Threat

WASHINGTON, Aug 13: Following Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's eye-turning visit to the United States, Washington has reaffirmed that its relationship with both India and Pakistan "remains unchanged" and that its diplomats are "committed to both nations".

The Pakistani Field Marshal, during his second US visit in two months, threatened to launch a nuclear war against India and take down "half the world". The remarks were the first nuclear threats known to have ever been delivered from US soil against a third country.

Speaking at the State Department briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce reiterated President Donald Trump's claim of US involvement in the India-Pakistan truce following the recent military conflict, saying it was a "very proud" moment for Washington to have been "involved in stopping that potential catastrophe."

"We had an experience with Pakistan and India, when there was a conflict, that could have developed into something quite horrible. There was immediate concern and movement with the Vice President JD Vance, the President Donald Trump and the Secretary of State Marco Rubio in addressing the nature of what was happening," she said.

"We described the nature of the phone calls and the work we did to stop the attacks, bringing the parties together to create something enduring. It's a very proud moment that Secretary Rubio, Vice President Vance and the top leaders in this nation were involved in stopping that potential catastrophe," Bruce added.

When asked if, after Asim Munir's recent meeting with Trump, the US would increase assistance and arms sales to Pakistan "at the expense of President Trump's relationship with PM Modi", Bruce noted that the US relationship with "both nations remains unchanged - good. The diplomats are committed to both nations."

She also talked about the US-Pakistan counter-terrorism dialogue, which was established in Islamabad on Tuesday, and said, "The United States and Pakistan reaffirmed their shared commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations during the latest rounds of talks in Islamabad. The US and Pakistan discussed ways to enhance cooperation to counter terrorist threats."

"For the region and for the world, the US working with both those nations is good news and will promote a future that's beneficial," she added.

Notably, Munir visited the US for the second time in less than two months. The trip comes after a private luncheon with Trump in June. Munir arrived in Washington on Sunday for a series of high-level meetings with the US top political and military leadership.

 

Trump Says Tariffs On India Over Russian Oil A 'Big Blow' To Moscow

WASHINGTON, Aug 12: US President Donald Trump has stated that America's steep tariffs on India over its import of Russian oil have dealt a "big blow" to Moscow's economy, which he said was not performing well.

Speaking from the White House, Trump claimed Russia's economy has been severely disrupted due to ongoing global pressures and the imposition of US tariffs on several countries, including India.

"I think Russia has to get back into building their country. It's a massive country... They have tremendous potential in Russia to do well. They're not doing well. Their economy is not doing well right now because it's been very well disturbed by this," he said.

"Doesn't help when the President of the United States tells their largest or second-largest oil buyer that we're putting a 50 per cent tariff on you if you buy oil from Russia. That was a big blow," Trump said, in an apparent reference to India.

He went on to declare, "No one else would have been so tough, and I haven't stopped there." The remarks came days after Trump called New Delhi and Moscow dead economies.

The United States has slapped 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on India, along with an additional 25 per cent levy on its purchases of Russian oil, resulting in a total of 50 per cent duties.

The US leader claimed his tariffs have helped the US not only generate revenue, but also in "solving" five wars, including military conflict between India and Pakistan.

"The tariffs have helped, gives us not only the money, but it gives us great power over enemies. We solved five wars- Pakistan and India. Azerbaijan and Armenia- it was raging for 37 years, and the two leaders got up and they said, we never thought this would be solved. Russia tried to solve it. They all tried to solve it. It was a very tough situation, but we got it done," he said.

When asked if he sees a time when the US and Russia can have normal trade relations, Trump said it could be a possibility if Moscow leaves the path of war.

"Russia has a very valuable piece of land. If Vladimir Putin would go toward business instead of toward war, you know, it's a warring nation. That's what they do. They fight a lot of wars. A friend of mine said Russia is tough because they just keep on fighting. They beat Hitler. So did we," he said.

On the possibility of a truce between Russia and Ukraine, Trump said, "Well, we're going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin. And at the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made."

‘First two minutes, I’ll know whether…’: Trump ahead of meeting with Putin to end Ukraine war

WASHINGTON, Aug 12: US President Donald Trump has expressed optimism ahead of his meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, saying he would know in the "first two minutes" whether he would strike a deal with Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump made the remark during a White House briefing that he called to announce plans for a federal takeover of Washington's police force to combat crime.

"At the end of that meeting, probably the first two minutes, I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made," Trump said ahead of his Friday summit with Putin.

Trump said he thought that the Friday's meeting with Putin in Alaska would be "really a feel-out meeting".

The US president said that “it’ll be good, but it might be bad”. He further predicted that he would say, "lots of luck, keep fighting. Or I may say, we can make a deal.”

While Trump presses for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Putin would want to lock in the gains since he started a war with Ukraine in February 2022.

Though White House earlier suggested inviting Volodymyr Zelensky to Alaska, the Ukraine President is unlikely to attend the meeting.

Trump has repeatedly ducked chances to say that he would push for Zelensky to take part in his discussions with Putin. He said the Ukrainian president had been to “a lot of meetings” without managing to stop the war.

The US President also suggested that after his meeting with Putin, the next meeting would be with Zelensky and Putin. "But it could also be a meeting with “Putin and Zelenskyy and me," he added.

'Osama Bin Laden In Suit': Ex-Pentagon Official On Pakistan's Asim Munir

WASHINGTON, Aug 12: Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin slammed Pakistan army chief Asim Munir over his recent nuclear rhetoric, saying that Islamabad was behaving like "a rogue state" with the war mongering.

He compared Pakistan's de facto military ruler with Osama bin Laden, the terrorist behind the 9/11 attack, noting that Munir's recent remarks were reminiscent of what the world has heard from the Islamic State.

The controversy centres on Field Marshal Asim Munir's recent remarks, in which he threatened that if Pakistan "goes down, it would take half the world down" with it. The comments were reportedly made during a meeting in Tampa, Florida, in the presence of US military officials.

India has formally condemned Munir's threat of nuclear war. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry noted that Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade, and expressed regret that such remarks were made from the soil of a friendly third country.

"Pakistan's threats on American soil are completely unacceptable," said Rubin in an interview.

The former US official pointed out that Pakistan's nuclear threats could provide cover for terrorist elements to "go rogue" with nuclear weapons. He argued that Pakistan represents a fundamentally different challenge from traditional diplomatic disputes.

"Americans look at terrorism through the lens of grievance...They don't understand the ideological underpinnings of many terrorists. Asim Munir is Osama bin Laden in a suit," he said.

Rubin further noted that Munir's remarks are raising questions in many people's minds about whether Pakistan can fulfil the responsibilities of being a state.

"The Field Marshal's rhetoric is reminiscent of what we've heard from the Islamic State," he said.

Rubin suggested that the international community should consider allowing Pakistan to undergo what he termed a "managed decline," potentially including recognition of breakaway regions such as Balochistan. He even raised the possibility of future military intervention to secure Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.

"It's coming near time when, in a future administration, other SEAL teams should enter Pakistan to secure its nuclear weapons because the alternative is simply too great to bear," he said.

According to Rubin, there is no reason why the USA should consider Pakistan a major non-NATO ally. He said, "Pakistan should be the first major non-NATO ally to be listed as a state sponsor of terrorism, and should not be a member of the US Central Command anymore."

Calling for a severe diplomatic action, he said, "Asim Munir should be persona non grata in the USA and never get an American Visa, along with any Pakistani official, till Pakistan explains itself and apologises."

Trump announces another 90-day pause on China tariffs

WASHINGTON, Aug 12: US President Donald Trump has signed an order to extend a tariff truce with China by 90 days, a White House official said on Monday, just hours before higher tariffs were due to take effect.

The move stops US tariffs on Chinese goods from rising to 145%, and Chinese tariffs on US goods from increasing to 125%. Current rates are 30% on Chinese goods entering the United States and 10% on US goods entering China.

Asked earlier on Monday whether he would extend the lower rates, Trump told reporters: “We’ll see what happens. They’ve been dealing quite nicely. The relationship is very good with President Xi (Jinping) and myself.”

The tariff truce began in May after talks in Geneva, where both sides agreed to a 90-day pause to allow further negotiations. They met again in Stockholm in late July but did not announce a new deal at the time.

Trump Deploys National Guard In Washington, Cops Now Under Federal Control

WASHINGTON, Aug 11: US President Donald Trump said Monday he's placing the Washington, D.C., police department under federal control and deploying the National Guard to make the nation's capital safer.

Trump has promised new steps to tackle homelessness and crime in Washington, prompting the city's mayor to voice concerns about the potential use of the National Guard to patrol the streets.

Ahead of a news conference, Trump said Monday on social media that the nation's capital would be “LIBERATED today!” He said he would end the “days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people.”

For Trump, the effort to take over public safety in Washington reflects a next step in his law enforcement agenda after his aggressive push to stop illegal border crossings. But the move involves at least 500 federal law enforcement officials, raising fundamental questions about how an increasingly emboldened federal government will interact with its state and local counterparts.

The president has used his social media and White House megaphones to message that his administration is tough on crime, yet his ability to shape policy might be limited outside of Washington, which has a unique status as a congressionally established federal district. Nor is it clear how his push would address the root causes of homelessness and crime.

About 500 federal law enforcement officers are being tasked with deploying throughout the nation's capital as part of the Trump administration's effort to combat crime, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Monday.

More than 100 FBI agents and about 40 agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are among federal law enforcement personnel being assigned to patrols in Washington, the person briefed on the plans said. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Marshals Service are also contributing officers.

Trump, Putin To Meet On August 15 In Alaska To Discuss Ukraine Peace Deal

WASHINGTON, Aug 9: US President Donald Trump announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday, 15th August, in Alaska for talks aimed around ending the war in Ukraine.

This will be Putin's first trip to the United States since 2015, when he met former President Barack Obama.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin of Russia will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

The Kremlin informed that the two leaders would "focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis", describing the process as "challenging" but one that Moscow would engage in "actively and energetically."

While speaking at the White House, Trump had said during the signing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace accord that striking a deal could involve exchanging land.

"We're going to get some back, and we're going to get some switched. There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, but we'll be talking about that either later or tomorrow," he told reporters.

Trump and Putin last sat together in 2019 at a G20 summit meeting in Japan during Trump's first term. They have spoken by telephone several times since January.

The Kremlin's Ushakov said that Trump had been invited to visit Russia.

Trump Rules Out Trade Talks With India Amid Tariff Dispute

WASHINGTON, Aug 8: US President Donald Trump has said there will be no trade negotiations with India until a dispute over tariffs is resolved, following his administration's decision to double tariffs on Indian imports.

Responding to a question at the Oval Office, whether he expected talks to resume in light of the new 50% tariff.

"No, not until we get it resolved," he replied.

The White House on Wednesday issued an Executive Order imposing an additional 25 percentage points in tariffs on Indian goods, raising the total levy to 50%. The administration cited national security and foreign policy concerns, pointing specifically to India's ongoing imports of Russian oil.

'Trump Was Directly Involved': US Doubles Down On India-Pak Peace Claims

WASHINGTON, Aug 8: The United States got "directly involved" when India and Pakistan were involved in a military conflict earlier this year, claimed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He reiterated America's earlier claim that US President Donald Trump stopped the war between the nuclear-armed South Asian nations.

Speaking during an interview to EWTN's 'The World Over' on Thursday, Rubio said that Trump is committed to peace and being the "president of peace".

"And so, we saw when India and Pakistan went to war, we got involved directly, and the president was able to deliver on that peace," Rubio said.

The US leader listed other conflicts that President Trump has supposedly helped resolve and said Americans were proud of those initiatives.

"Cambodia and Thailand more recently; Azerbaijan and Armenia, hopefully...DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo)-Rwanda - a 30-year war, 7 million people killed - we were able to bring them here to sign it," Rubio said.

He added the US is "looking for more - obviously, the big one being in Ukraine and Russia".

Trump Raises Tariffs To 50% on India

WASHINGTON, Aug 6: US President Donald Trump today signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil -- a revenue source the White House says is sustaining Moscow's war in Ukraine.

The new measure, to take effect in 21 days, will be added on top of a separate 25 per cent tariff due to come into force on Thursday, effectively doubling the overall duty on Indian imports to 50 per cent.

In tariff rankings, India now matches Brazil at the top with 50 per cent, followed by Switzerland at 39 per cent, Canada and Iraq at 35 per cent, and China at 30 per cent.

The official order links the decision to what the Trump administration calls a "national emergency". It states that India is "directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil" and that imposing the additional 25 per cent duty "will more effectively deal" with that emergency.

The additional tariffs obviously means a much higher cost for Indian exports in products like auto parts, textile, and electronics.

The steel, chemical and pharma industries will be affected and may face a huge setback.

The trade imbalance between India and the US could widen.

There could also be a possible shift or reconsideration in the supply chain.

'India Fuelling War Machine': Trump's 24-Hour 'Substantial' Tariff Threat

WASHINGTON, Aug 5: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he would increase the tariffs charged on Indian imports "very substantially" over the next 24 hours because of India's continued purchases of Russian oil.

"India has not been a good trading partner, because they do a lot of business with us, but we don't do business with them. So we settled on 25 percent but I think I'm going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours, because they're buying Russian oil," he told CNBC in a televised interview.

This comes a day after Trump said that he would "substantially" raise US tariffs on India and had accused the South-Asian country of buying oil from Russia and selling it for profits.

As a response to that India had criticised the United States and European Union for singling out Indian refiners over their exports of crude.

Trump Threatens To 'Substantially' Raise Tariffs On India Over Russian Oil

WASHINGTON, Aug 4: US President Donald Trump has threatened India yet again over its purchase of Russian oil, saying he will substantially raise tariffs on goods from India.

"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits," Trump said in a post on Truth Social today.

"Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA," he said without specifying what tariff level he had in mind.

His post comes days after his announcement that 25 percent tariff would be imposed on goods imported from India, adding that the country would also face an unspecified penalty, but gave no details.

Government sources have said that the tariff would have a "negligible" impact on the Indian economy.

The GDP loss is not likely to exceed 0.2 per cent, sources said.

 

Trump Repeats Claim He Settled War Between India And Pak With Trade

WASHINGTON, Aug 3: US President Donald Trump on Sunday yet again took credit for stopping conflicts around the world, including the recent one between India and Pakistan.

Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire after a “long night” of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim on several occasions.

Trump's latest claim comes days after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for ending several conflicts around the world including the one between India and Pakistan.

On Sunday, in a post on Truth Social, Trump slammed radio host and author Charlamagne Tha God, and said he (God) knows nothing about him or what he has done, “like just ending 5 Wars, including a 31 year bloodbath between Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Seven Million people have died, and there was no end in sight.”

“He didn't know that, or India and Pakistan or, wiping out Iran's nuclear capabilities, or closing the horrendous open Border, or creating the greatest economy,” Trump said.

Just a day earlier, Trump said in an interview on Newsmax that he has settled a lot of wars.

“You take a look at what's happened just over the last little while. We've settled a lot of, a lot of very beautiful wars have been settled… One of the wars India, Pakistan, nuclear,” Trump said adding that he settled conflict between Thailand and Cambodia as well as Congo and Rwanda.

“I settled that up. And I settled it up with trade. I settled a lot of them with trade. I said ‘listen, you guys are going to fight. You can fight all you want. I mean, just fight your hearts out. But we're not doing a trade deal'.

“All of a sudden they end up not doing a war. I settled a lot of wars. I think I settled averaging about a war a month. But, you know, we're saving millions of lives,” he said.

Trump on Wednesday announced the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from India starting August 1, plus an unspecified penalty for buying Russian crude oil and military equipment.

The tariff for Pakistan was 19 per cent, lower than the 29 per cent announced by Trump in April. In fact, Trump on Wednesday also announced sealing a trade deal with Pakistan and said that Washington will work with Islamabad to develop what he described as the South Asian nation's “massive oil reserves.”

India's US Envoy Meets Tulsi Gabbard To Discuss 'Mutual Interests'

WASHINGTON DC, Aug 3: Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Sunday met with US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard and held an "engaging conversation" on various issues of mutual interest.

"Pleasure to meet DNI Tulsi Gabbard and her husband, Abraham Williams; we had an engaging conversation on various issues of mutual interest," Ambassador Kwatra stated in a post on X, while expressing his pleasure at the meeting.

Earlier on Saturday, New Delhi had opened eight more Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) in the US -- Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Edison, Orlando, Raleigh, and San Jose --, bringing the total number of centres to 16 in America. A 17th centre is also planned to open in Los Angeles later this month.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Kwatra expressed his delight over the announcement, noting that at the heart of the India-US partnership lie people-to-people ties.

"We are very happy to announce the opening of 8 new Indian Consular Application Centres... We firmly believe that people-to-people ties are the heart of the India-US partnership," said India's Ambassador to the United States.

The expansion, announced jointly by the Indian Mission and VFS Global, aims to make essential services more accessible to Indian Americans and other applicants seeking India-related documentation.

The centres will handle a comprehensive range of services, including India visa applications, overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) applications, Indian passport services, renunciation of Indian citizenship, police clearance certificates, Global Entry Programme applications and Document attestation services.

To improve accessibility, the new centres will operate on Saturdays and include return courier services in standard fees. Additional services such as photographs, photocopies, and form assistance will be provided at no extra charge.

Tremors Felt In New York As 3-Magnitude Earthquake Hits New Jersey

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, Aug 3: A small earthquake rattled the New York metropolitan area Saturday night. The US Geological Survey said the tremor had a magnitude of 3.0. It hit in the New Jersey suburb of Hasbrouck Heights, less than 8 miles (13 kilometers) west of Central Park, at a depth of about 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).

One resident of New York's Brooklyn borough described it as a very brief tremor, just a slight swaying for a moment. Nevertheless, social media quickly lit up with people who felt it. The official account of the Empire State Building reported in on the social platform X to say: "I AM FINE."

The tremor was much milder than a 4.8-magnitude quake in 2024 that struck in Tewksbury, New Jersey, a little farther west of the city.

US deploying nuclear submarines in response to ‘provocative’ comments by former Russian president: Trump

WASHINGTON, Aug 1: United States President Donald Trump on Friday said that the US would be deploying nuclear submarines, in response to “provocative” comments made by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.

Medvedev is also the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

Trump said the nuclear submarines would be positioned "in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.”

“Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances,” the US President said in a post on Truth Social.

This comes days after Medvedev, in a post on social media platform X, accused Trump of playing the “ultimatum game”.

In the post, Medvedev said that Russia was not “Israel or even Iran”, and that “each new ultimatum” by Trump would be seen as a “threat and a step towards war”.

“Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don't go down the Sleepy Joe road!” Medvedev said.

Trump Releases Revised Tariffs: India Remains At 25%, Pak's Rate Slashed

WASHINGTON, Aug 1: US President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order slapping higher tariffs on dozens of trading partners ahead of a Friday trade deal deadline -- his latest bid to reshape global trade in favour of US businesses. The higher import duty rates from 10 per cent to 41 per cent are set to start in seven days for 69 trading partners, according to the order.

The duties ranged as high as 41 per cent on Syria, 35 per cent on many goods from Canada, 50 per cent for Brazil, 25 per cent for India, 20 per cent for Taiwan and 39 per cent for Switzerland. Meanwhile, duties on Pakistan imports have been slashed from 29 per cent to 19 per cent.

This was alongside various levels of duties reflecting trade deals struck between Washington and major partners like the European Union and Japan. The order said that goods from all other countries not listed in an annex would be subject to a 10 per cent US tariff rate.

Trump's order said that some trading partners, "despite having engaged in negotiations, have offered terms that, in my judgment, do not sufficiently address imbalances in our trading relationship or have failed to align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national-security matters."

Officials from the Trump administration told reporters that more trade deals were yet to be announced as Trump's higher "reciprocal" tariff rates were set to take effect.

"We have some deals," the official said. "And I don't want to get ahead of the President of the United States in announcing those deals."

An exemption for Canadian and Mexican goods entering the country under a North American trade pact remained in place, according to the White House.

The Trump administration issued a separate order for Canada that raises the rate on Canadian goods subject to fentanyl-related tariffs to 35 per cent from 25 per cent previously, saying Canada, the second-largest US trading partner after Mexico, had "failed to cooperate" in curbing fentanyl flows into the US.

The higher tariffs on Canadian goods contrasted sharply with Trump's decision to grant Mexico a 90-day reprieve from higher tariffs of 30 per cent on many goods to provide more time to negotiate a broader trade pact.

Meanwhile, the extension for Mexico avoids a 30 per cent tariff on most Mexican non-automotive and non-metal goods compliant with the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade and came after a Thursday morning call between Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Trump said the US would continue to levy a 50 per cent tariff on Mexican steel, aluminium and copper and a 25 per cent tariff on Mexican autos and on non-USMCA-compliant goods subject to tariffs related to the US fentanyl crisis.

"Additionally, Mexico has agreed to immediately terminate its Non-Tariff Trade Barriers, of which there were many," Trump said in a Truth Social post without providing details.

Trump hit Brazil on Wednesday with a steep 50 per cent tariff as he escalated his fight with Latin America's largest economy over its prosecution of his friend and former President Jair Bolsonaro, but softened the blow by excluding sectors such as aircraft, energy and orange juice from heavier levies.

South Korea agreed on Wednesday to accept a 15 per cent tariff on its exports to the U.S., including autos, down from a threatened 25 per cent, as part of a deal that includes a pledge to invest $350 billion in US projects to be chosen by Trump.

But goods from India appeared to be headed for a 25 per cent tariff after talks bogged down over access to India's agriculture sector, drawing a higher-rate threat from Trump that also included an unspecified penalty for India's purchases of Russian oil.

Although negotiations with India were continuing, New Delhi vowed to protect the country's labour-intensive farm sector, triggering outrage from the opposition party and a slump in the rupee.

Looming over the global economy is also an unresolved trade tussle between the United States and China. Beijing is facing an August 12 deadline to reach a durable tariff agreement with Trump's administration, after the two largest economies reached preliminary deals in May and June to end escalating tit-for-tat tariffs and a cut-off of rare earth minerals.

'India An Ally, But Can't Align 100% Of Time': US On Trump Tariffs

WASHINGTON, Aug 1: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said that India's purchase of oil from Russia is "most certainly a point of irritation" in New Delhi's relationship with Washington.

Speaking to Fox Radio a day after US President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on India and an additional penalty for buying Russian military equipment and energy, Rubio said that India's purchases of Russian oil are helping to sustain Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine.

"Look, global trade - India is an ally. It's a strategic partner. Like anything in foreign policy, you're not going to align 100 per cent of the time on everything," Rubio said when asked if President Trump is "upset" with India getting a "great portion" of the discounted oil from Russia.

"India has huge energy needs and that includes the ability to buy oil and coal and gas and things that it needs to power its economy like every country does, and it buys it from Russia, because Russian oil is sanctioned and cheap and - meaning they have to - in many cases, they're selling it under the global price because of the sanctions. And that, unfortunately, is helping to sustain the Russian war effort," he added.

"So, it is most certainly a point of irritation in our relationship with India - not the only point of irritation," Rubio said.

The US Secretary of State also said that they have "many other points" of cooperation with India.

"But I think what you're seeing the President express is the very clear frustration that with so many other oil vendors available, India continues to buy so much from Russia, which in essence is helping to fund the war effort and allowing this war to continue in Ukraine," he said.