Trump talks of ‘retaliation’ if India turns down anti-malarial drug request

President Donald Trump on Monday spoke of "retaliation" if India turns down the United States' request to lift the hold on hydroxychloroquine, which he touted as a "game-changer" in the fight against the Coronavirus.

President Trump made the request in a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

“I said we’d appreciate you allowing our supply to come out, If he doesn’t allow it to come out. That would be okay but, of course, there may be retaliation. Why wouldn't that be?” the president said at the daily White House briefing on the coronavirus outbreak.

India is yet to take a call on the request. Reports suggested that PM Modi had told the US President that India "will do all what we can."

India, being one of the largest manufacturers of hydroxychloroquine in the world, banned its export deeming it essential for its own fight against the pandemic.