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Trump want money from Saudi Arabia for staying US forces in Syria

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US President Donald Trump, who was recently seen with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in White House describing huge defence deals with the kingdom, has now said that Saudi Arabia might have to pay if it wants continuing US presence in Syria.

Trump had recently announced his intention of withdrawing US forces “very soon” from Syria after “completion of mission” against IS.

Trump has reiterated calls to end US presence in the region, after he made similar statements at an event in Ohio last week.  While addressing a joint press conference with three leaders of Baltic countries, he said, “I want to get out. I want to bring our troops back home. We do a lot of things in this country, we do them for a lot of reasons, but it is very costly for our country, and it helps other countries a hell of a lot more than it helps us.”

Trump also railed against ongoing US intervention in the Middle East and its growing cost. He was quoted saying, “Think of it, $7 trillion over a 17-year period. We have nothing. Nothing except death and destruction. It’s a horrible thing. So it is time. It is time.”

“We were very successful against ISIL. We’ll be successful against anybody militarily. But sometimes it is time to come back home. And we’re thinking about that very seriously.”

Saudi Crown Prince MBS has recently told Time Magazine that US should maintain its military presence in Syria at least in the near future to prevent “Iranian expansion” in the war ravaged nation.

On Tuesday, Trump, said, “We’ve almost completed that task [of defeating ISIL] and we’ll be making a determination very quickly, in coordination with others in the area, as to what we’ll do.”

He further said, “Saudi Arabia is very interested in our decision, and I said, ‘Well, you know, you want us to stay, maybe you’re going to have to pay’.”

According to reports Trump spoke on Monday with the King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, over the phone to discuss a range of regional issues, including a peace plan between Israelis and Palestinians and opportunities to strengthen the American-Saudi strategic partnership.

Read More: Trump’s U turn: US forces to pull out of Syria soon

However, after the telephonic conversation between King Salman and President Trump White House statement, released on Tuesday, did not mention any discussion about Saudi Arabia’s boosting funding for US military efforts in Syria.

Saudi Arabia’s most powerful Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is currently visiting US for three weeks. Besides meeting President Donald Trump, he has widely visited different states mainly to attract investment for implementing his Vision 2030. He has also met with IT and Bollywood personalities for transforming the conventional image of his country.

In one of his interviews with The Atlantic magazine, Bin Salman was quoted saying “Israelis and Palestinians have the right to their lands”. This is considered by several observers that it was a step ahead in recognising Israel as a state, a big shift in Kingdom’s foreign policy.

Trump’s remarks about withdrawal from Syria were contradictory to those of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who had pledged an enduring presence in Syria last year.

Meanwhile senior US administration official has told NBC that Trump has reluctantly agreed give the effort more time when advisors reminded that he has spoken against setting deadlines in foreign military operations in the past.

Read More: Syrian forces clear 90 per cent of Eastern Ghouta

Some US officials say Trump has been persuaded not to withdraw troops from Syria immediately despite his recent announcement that US would “be coming out of Syria very soon.”

The Obama administration launched a war in 2014 against the Daesh (IS) after the group flourished in the chaos of the Syrian civil. However, US has been supporting anti-Bashar al-Assad groups and the Kurdish separatists demanding establishment of Kurdistan in the country.

Meanwhile Al-Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara has said that US leader is taking advantage of tension in the Middle East, He said that US President is “milking Gulf countries” and exploiting tensions in the Middle East to bolster its arms race.

Bishara said that US was acting like a “mercenary” and putting itself forward for the service whoever was willing to pay highest. He has alleged that US was also benefiting financially from both sides of the ongoing Gulf crisis, erupted early June last year when Saudi-let quartet, including UAE, Bahrain and Egypt suddenly severed ties with Qatar. He further said “He’s done that with UAE, with Qatar, with Saudi Arabia, with Kuwait and so forth.”

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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