US President Donald Trump on Thursday stated that he intends to visit India, possibly as early as next year (2026), while publicly reinforcing his personal relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking at the White House, President Trump called PM Modi a “great man” and a “friend,” and confirmed that the Indian leader is keen for him to visit.
“He is a friend of mine, and we speak and he wants me to go there. We will figure that out, I will go… Prime Minister Modi is a great man and I will be going,” Trump said. When asked specifically if he was planning a trip to India next year, he responded, “It could be, yeah.”
The Russian Oil Claim vs. Reality
President Trump’s comments included a controversial claim regarding India’s energy policy: “They (India) are going good, he (Modi) stopped buying oil from Russia largely.”
However, official reports and data from the time frame of the President’s comments indicate that India remains a significant, though increasingly cautious, buyer of Russian crude:
- MEA Stance: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has consistently stated that its energy sourcing decisions are guided by national interests and the need to secure affordable fuel for its 1.4 billion citizens.
- Import Data: Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov recently stated that India continues to buy “huge quantities of Russian feedstock,” with October 2025 imports holding steady at around 1.75 million barrels per day.
- Sanctions Impact: While some Indian companies have halted purchases from sanctioned Russian entities (like Rosneft and Lukoil) following recent US measures, analysts note that Russian barrels are unlikely to disappear entirely, suggesting they will continue to flow through intermediaries and more complex trading routes.
MEA Offers No Confirmation
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, addressed the President’s comments but did not offer any confirmation regarding the proposed visit.
“As far as the comments of President Trump regarding his visit to India are concerned, I do not have anything on this to share. I will let you know when I have something to share about it,” Jaiswal said at a press briefing.
Bilateral Tensions and Quad Summit
The potential visit comes after a period of significant tension in the bilateral relationship earlier this year, primarily over trade disputes and India’s Russian oil purchases.
- Tariffs: Tensions peaked when the Trump administration imposed a 50% tariff on certain Indian goods, which included a 25% tariff penalty tied to the Russian energy purchases.
- Quad Summit Delay: A planned Quad Leaders summit, which India was expected to host this year on the sidelines of a Modi-Trump meeting, has been pushed back due to scheduling problems and friction in the relationship. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicated the meeting could now take place in the first quarter of 2026.
A bilateral trade deal remains the key focus, with officials from both sides accelerating efforts to hammer out an agreement. The prospective meeting between Trump and Modi, which the President views as crucial for trade discussions, is seen as a way to signal a broader warming and accelerate key bilateral initiatives, including the trade deal.