MEA Affirms India’s Commitment to US Trade and Quad Summit
NEW DELHI — In a wide-ranging weekly media briefing, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson, Shri Randhir Jaiswal, addressed a series of critical diplomatic issues, directly pushing back against what he called “unacceptable” anti-India remarks from the U.S. while simultaneously affirming India’s commitment to its strategic partnerships.
According to ATP, The briefing began with questions about a contentious social media post by President Donald Trump, who claimed the U.S. had “lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China.” The spokesperson declined to comment directly, stating, “I have no comments to offer on this post at this point.”
However, when questioned about a conflicting remark from Peter Navarro, a key trade advisor to President Trump, Jaiswal was more direct. Navarro had reportedly called the Russia-Ukraine conflict “Modi’s war” and made other critical statements regarding India’s ties with Russia. Jaiswal responded firmly, “We have seen some incorrect and misleading comments or statements from Mr. Navarro,” and added, “We would also like to state that these are unacceptable to us. We reject them.”
Reports reaching ATP said, Despite these public tensions, Jaiswal underscored the strength of the India-U.S. relationship, describing it as a “Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.” He pointed to recent engagements, including a joint military exercise in Alaska and a “Two Plus Two” inter-sessional meeting, as proof that substantive cooperation is ongoing.
On the trade front, Jaiswal addressed questions about a recent escalation in tensions following the U.S. imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian goods. He reassured reporters that diplomatic channels remain open. “We continue to remain on US side on trade issues,” he stated, noting that the goal is a mutually beneficial trade agreement.
Regarding the upcoming Quad Leaders’ Summit, Jaiswal called the forum a “valuable” platform for the four member countries—India, Australia, Japan, and the United States—to discuss “shared interests on several issues.” He affirmed that the summit is being scheduled through diplomatic consultations among the partners, reinforcing India’s commitment to the strategic agenda of the Quad, regardless of short-term frictions with the U.S.
