India rejects NATO chief claim on Modi-Putin phone call, calls it ‘entirely baseless’

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – India on Friday strongly rejected NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s recent remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the issue of tariffs imposed by the US stated that the comment is “factually incorrect” and “entirely baseless”.

Ministry of External Affairs rejected NATO chief Mark Rutte’s claim on PM Modi-Putin phone call, said no such discussion had ever taken place and urged NATO leadership to act with greater caution.

India slammed the remarks after Rutte suggested that PM Modi had sought clarifications from Putin on Russia’s war strategy in the wake of US tariff actions.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen the statement by NATO Secretary-General Mr. Mark Rutte regarding a purported phone conversation between Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. This statement is factually incorrect and entirely baseless. At no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested. No such conversation has taken place.”

Rutte in US media interview had claimed that the tariffs imposed on India by US President Trump were significantly affecting Russia.

He alleged that New Delhi was reaching out to Moscow, with Modi reportedly asking Putin to explain his approach to Ukraine, since India had been impacted by those tariffs.

India underscored that NATO’s top leadership should ensure accuracy when issuing public remarks.

MEA spokesperson said “We expect the leadership of an important institution like Nato to exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in public statements. Speculative or careless remarks that misrepresent the Prime Minister’s engagements or suggest conversations that never occurred are unacceptable”.

Jaiswal criticized NATO chief’s comments, the MEA reiterated that India would continue to make decisions independently on energy.

“As previously stated, India’s energy imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. India will continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” Jaiswal added.