After sending signals of a possible thaw a few weeks ago, US President Donald Trump has again resorted to off-hand claims and unsubstantiated hyperbole to target India over its trade ties with Russia.
Trump's abrasive tone is particularly damaging since he is openly targeting PM Modi—while calling him his "friend" in the same vein—part of a familiar style in which he positions himself as the dominant figure and frames the other as deferential.
On its part, India has chosen to maintain a studied silence on Trump's statements, with New Delhi yet to react to the US President's recent claims.
According to a report in The Indian Express, sources said that the diplomatic circles in New Delhi are calling for restraint and political maturity amid Trump's onslaught.
Sources told the newspaper that a tit-for-tat response can be "counter-productive", adding that "there is no point in scoring points" at a time when both the countries are looking to finalise the bilateral trade deal.
They added that a "ball-by-ball commentary" on Trump's remarks is not needed, saying that focusing on trade talks is India's priority. Chief economic adviser V Anantha Nageswaran had said in December that India and US are likely to seal the pact by March, adding that he will be "surprised" if there is no trade pact by then. He also said that "most issues have been resolved."
Fact-checking Trump's claims
While India has not officially reacted to Trump's claims, a quick research shows that they are highly exaggerated.
For instance, the US President claimed that India had ordered 68 Apache attack helicopters from the United States and that delays in delivery had prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek a meeting with him to raise the issue.
However, a review of official contracts, delivery records, deployment details and discussions with military and diplomatic sources shows this does not match the facts since India ordered 28 Apaches in total and all had been delivered by December 2025, The Times of India reported.
India had inked a deal for 22 Apache helicopters during the Obama administration in September 2015. These were delivered during the Trump administration’s first term. Another deal for 6 more choppers was signed during Trump's visit to India in 2020. These were delivered last month, though the original delivery was expected in early 2024.
Trump has also repeatedly claimed that the US mediated between India and Pakistan during their conflict in May, which led to a ceasefire between the two sides. New Delhi has repeatedly countered this claim, saying that there was no third-party mediation. Yet, Trump has made the claims multiple times over the last few months, projecting himself as a strongman President who "stopped 8 wars", including the one between India and Pakistan.
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