The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has firmly rejected recent remarks by a senior United States official suggesting that a delay in Prime Minister Narendra Modi contacting former President Donald Trump was responsible for holding up a bilateral trade agreement between the two nations.
MEA Spokesperson Counters "Inaccurate" Claims
During a media briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed and dismissed comments made by US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. Lutnick, in a podcast, had characterized the delay in finalizing the US-India trade pact as stemming from New Delhi's side, specifically citing that Washington had "waited for PM Modi's call for too long."
Jaiswal termed these assertions as "inaccurate characterizations" of the ongoing diplomatic and trade discussions. He emphasized that the leadership of both countries has maintained consistent and high-level contact.
Details of High-Level Engagement and Negotiations
Providing concrete details to counter the narrative, the spokesperson revealed that Prime Minister Modi and President Trump have spoken on eight separate occasions in the year 2025 alone. These conversations, he noted, covered various facets of the wide-ranging partnership between India and the United States.
Jaiswal outlined the history of the trade negotiations, stating that both nations were committed to a bilateral trade agreement as far back as February 13, 2025. Since that commitment, multiple rounds of negotiations have been conducted with the aim of arriving at a mutually beneficial outcome. He acknowledged that on several occasions, the two sides were "close to a deal."
India's Commitment to a Mutually Beneficial Outcome
Reiterating India's position, the MEA spokesperson affirmed that New Delhi remains steadfast in its pursuit of a fair agreement. "We remain committed to a mutually beneficial deal between two complementary economies," Jaiswal stated.
The rebuttal underscores India's stance that the characterization of the negotiation process in the reported remarks does not accurately reflect the complex and sustained diplomatic engagement that has taken place. The focus, according to the MEA, remains on achieving a balanced and advantageous deal for both countries through continued dialogue.
