MEA hopes India, US relations will move forward in right direction
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON –Ministry of External Affairs Spokesman Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday hoped that the relationship between India and the US will continue to move forward based on mutual respect and shared interests after the ongoing tariff tensions between the two nations.
MEA remarks came after escalating trade tensions between India and the United States over India’s oil purchases from Russia.
US President Donald Trump increased tariffs imposed on Indian goods to 50 per cent, in what is seen as a sign of his frustration over failing to stop the Russia-Ukraine war.
Randhir Jaiswal said, “India and the United States share a comprehensive global strategic partnership anchored in shared interests, democratic values and robust people-to-people ties. This partnership has weathered several transitions and challenges, as we had said earlier.”
“We remain focused on the substantive agenda that the two countries have committed to, and we hope that the relationship will continue to move forward based on mutual respect and shared interests,” Jaiswal said.
MEA called the tariff decision “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable”, said India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests.
Jaiswal informed that a US defence policy team will be visiting New Delhi as both countries continue to strengthen their comprehensive global strategic partnership.
According to the MEA, the defence partnership between both India and the US has strengthened across all domains and the defence procurement continues as per established procedures.
Jaiswal said the joint India-US military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ is expected to take place later this month.
“The India-US defence partnership, underpinned by foundational defence agreements, is an important pillar of the bilateral partnership. This robust cooperation has strengthened across all domains. We are expecting a US defence policy team to be in Delhi in mid-August. The 21st edition of the joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas is also expected to take place later this month in Alaska. Both sides remain engaged to convene the 2+2 Intersessional meeting at the working-level towards the end of this month,” the MEA spokesperson Jaiwal said.
