“We’ve already reached that deal, the concept of the deal,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled from Washington to his Florida estate, Index reports.
Reuters reported on Friday that the United States had told New Delhi that India could soon resume buying Venezuelan oil to help block Russian oil exports, citing three people familiar with the matter.
India has not imported significant amounts of Iranian oil due to US sanctions, but became a major buyer of Russian oil after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine triggered Western sanctions that lowered its price.
In August, Trump doubled tariffs on Indian imports to 50% to pressure New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil, and earlier this month said the rate could rise again if Russian oil imports were not curbed.
Finance Minister Scott Bessent signaled in January that an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods could be lifted, given what he called a sharp decline in India’s imports of Russian oil.
In March 2025, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on countries that buy Venezuelan oil, including India. The US government this week lifted some sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry to make it easier for US firms to sell their crude oil.
Trump’s comments on Saturday appeared to reflect a continued improvement in relations between the US and India, which have been strained over the past year.
Trump also said China could reach a deal with the US to buy Venezuelan oil.
“China is welcome and would make a great oil deal,” Trump said, without elaborating.
(Vijesti.ba)
