NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has firmly rejected a recent Bloomberg report that alleged a meeting between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio prior to the finalization of the India-US trade agreement. In a strong rebuttal, the MEA labeled the report as entirely unfounded and without merit.
MEA Spokesperson Denies Allegations
During the weekly press briefing held on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the media and categorically denied the claims made by Bloomberg. Jaiswal emphasized that no such meeting or visit ever took place between the two officials, calling the report baseless and misleading.
"There is absolutely no basis for that report. No such meeting or visit occurred," Jaiswal stated unequivocally, putting to rest the speculation surrounding the alleged encounter.
Background of the Controversial Report
Earlier on Wednesday, Bloomberg published a report suggesting that Ajit Doval had met with Marco Rubio in September of the previous year. According to the report, Doval reportedly conveyed to Rubio that the Narendra Modi-led government was prepared to wait out the term of US President Donald Trump for the trade agreement if Washington did not reduce its public criticism of New Delhi.
The report further claimed that Doval asserted India would not be intimidated by Trump or his top aides, highlighting a stance of resilience and strategic patience in diplomatic negotiations.
Recent Developments in India-US Trade Relations
This controversy emerges in the wake of significant progress in bilateral trade relations between India and the United States. On Monday, President Donald Trump announced a landmark trade deal with India, which involved a substantial reduction in tariffs from 50 percent to 18 percent.
In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as "one of my greatest friends and a Powerful and Respected Leader of his Country." The post detailed discussions on various topics, including trade, and mentioned agreements on oil purchases, with India committing to stop buying Russian oil and increase imports from the United States and potentially Venezuela.
Official Confirmation of Trade Deal
Adding to the developments, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed on Tuesday that the "much-awaited trade deal" with the United States had been successfully concluded. This announcement underscores the positive trajectory in economic cooperation between the two nations, despite the recent media controversy.
The MEA's swift denial of the Bloomberg report aims to clarify the diplomatic narrative and reinforce the transparency of India's foreign policy engagements. As India and the United States continue to strengthen their strategic partnership, such clarifications are crucial in maintaining trust and accuracy in international reporting.
