Trump warns India of higher tariffs on oil purchases from Russia

• We can raise tariffs on them [India] very quickly: president of the usa.
• President Donald Trump says it was “important to make me happy.”
• It also reiterates the stance of annexing Greenland to Denmark.

NEW DELHI/COPENHAGEN: The United States could raise tariffs on India if New Delhi does not comply with Washington’s demand to curb purchases of Russian oil, President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

“Monty […] I knew I wasn’t happy and it was important that he make me happy,” Trump said on Sunday.

“They are trading and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,” Trump said in response to a question about Russia’s oil purchases from India.

India’s commerce ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The US doubled import tariffs on Indian goods to 50% last year as punishment for its heavy buying of Russian oil. Despite high tariffs, India’s exports to the US jumped in November.

Buoyed by improved trade data, Indian officials have maintained a firm stance against US trade demands, signaling limited flexibility in areas such as agricultural imports, while data show India’s oil purchases from Russia have declined.

India asks refiners for weekly disclosures on Russia and US. oil markets, people familiar with the matter said Reuters last week, adding that they expect crude imports from Russia to fall below 1 million barrels per day as New Delhi tries to strike a trade deal with Washington.

Modi has spoken with Trump at least three times by phone since he imposed the tariffs, but the discussions remain unclear.

India’s Commerce Minister Rajesh Agrawal met with US Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer to discuss bilateral trade and economic ties last month in Delhi.

annexation of Greenland

Additionally, President Trump reiterated his claim that Greenland should become part of the US, despite calls from the Danish prime minister to stop “threatening” the territory.

Washington’s military intervention in Venezuela has reignited fears over Greenland, which Trump has repeatedly said he wants to annex given its strategic location in the Arctic.

While on Air Force One en route to Washington, Trump reiterated the goal.

“We need Greenland from a national security point of view and Denmark will not be able to do that,” he said in response to a reporter’s question.

“We’ll worry about Greenland in about two months… let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days.”

Over the weekend, the Danish prime minister called on Washington to stop “threatening its historic ally”.

“I have to say this very clearly to the United States: it is absolutely absurd to say that the US should take control of Greenland,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement.

He also noted that Denmark, “and therefore Greenland,” was a NATO member protected by the accord’s security guarantees.