By Jasleen Kaur Gulati

Copyright ptcnews

PTC News Desk: After months of repeatedly threatening tariffs and criticising India for purchasing Russian oil, US President Donald Trump has recently toned down his rhetoric and is now emphasising his friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Just two days after posting a warm birthday message for the PM, Trump once again praised their relationship while addressing reporters in the UK alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. His comments came as he lashed out at European nations for continuing to buy Russian oil, saying such purchases weaken efforts to isolate Moscow amid ongoing conflicts.I am very close to India, I am very close to the PM of India. I spoke to him the other day. I wished him a happy birthday. We have a very good relationship, Trump said.Found out that the European nations were buying oil from Russia,” Trump said. “But I said, you know, I sanctioned them. China is paying a very large tariff right now to the United States, but I’m willing to do other things – but not when the people that I’m fighting for are buying oil from Russia. If the oil price comes down, very simply, Russia will settle. And the oil price is way down.”While he has often attacked India’s oil trade with Russia, Trump this time suggested that lowering global oil prices would be the real key to pushing Moscow toward a settlement. His remarks came during a meeting with Starmer at Chequers, the British PM’s official country residence.The latest praise for Modi follows months of Trump’s harsh criticism and tariff threats directed at India. New Delhi, for its part, has insisted its oil trade with Russia does not breach any international laws and has accused Western nations of hypocrisy, pointing out that both the EU and US continue to import Russian goods worth billions.Amid the criticism, Modi had kept Trump at arm’s length—declining a dinner invite after the G7 Summit in Canada and cancelling his upcoming New York visit for the UN General Assembly. In recent weeks, however, Trump appears to have softened his stance toward India.