India Says Russia Ties ‘Time-Tested’ as Trump Slams Relationship
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
MEA dials down Trump noise: India, US weathered challenges, focus on future
US President Donald Trump’s diatribe was met Friday by diplomatic pragmatism from the Ministry of External Affairs. MEA said that New Delhi will remain “focused on the substantive agenda” even as it flagged that its friendship with Russia was “time-tested” This response came the day Trump unveiled sweeping new tariffs on dozens of countries including 25 per cent for goods from India. India has, in the past few years, steadily diversified its defence purchases from countries including the U.S. and China. Trump has been seen as offensive by many for his framing of India as a “dead economy’ and his criticism of India putting high tariffs on its goods as “most strenuous and obnoxious’. He has repeatedly denied the claim, but Indian ministers repeatedly deny the claim and officials and officials have repeatedly denied that he is a ‘liar and a bully.’ “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care,” he said.
Underlining that the India-US partnership has “weathered several transitions and challenges,” the MEA said that New Delhi will remain “focused on the substantive agenda” even as it flagged that its friendship with Russia was “time-tested.”
This response came the day Trump unveiled sweeping new tariffs on dozens of countries including 25 per cent for goods from India.
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Responding to a question, MEA’s official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Friday: “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. We remain focused on the substantive agenda that our two countries have committed to and are confident that the relationship will continue to move forward.”
Asked about India-US defence ties in the wake of reports of India refusing to consider F-35 fighter jets, the MEA spokesperson said, “We have a strong defence partnership with the U.S. which has been strengthening over the last several years. There is potential for this partnership to grow further under the India-US COMPACT for the 21st century.”
Responding to Trump’s talk of a penalty on India for buying energy from Russia, Jaiswal said: “In securing our energy needs, we are guided by what is on offer in the markets, and by the prevailing global circumstances.”
Incidentally, this has been Delhi’s position for the last three years, since the war in Ukraine broke out after the Russian invasion in February 2022.
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On Trump’s tirade against India-Russia ties and that they are both “dead economies”, the MEA spokesperson said: “Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership.”
On Trump’s anger at India buying Russian defence equipment, he said, “The sourcing of our defence requirements is determined solely by our national security imperatives and strategic assessments.”
While India does depend on Russia for the defence supplies, much of it is because of the legacy from the Soviet Union era. Although the dependency is about 60 to 70 per cent, India has, in the past few years, steadily diversified its defence purchases from countries including the US.
Yet, the framing by Trump — “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care” — has been seen as offensive by many.
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While his criticism of India putting high tariffs has been a pet grievance from his first term — when he called India a “tariff king” — the US President’s latest statement described India’s trade policies as “most strenuous and obnoxious”.
Trump’s remarks deepen Delhi’s diplomatic challenge when India and the US are negotiating a bilateral trade deal.
There are two possible impulses that guide Trump’s responses, according to Delhi’s analysis.
First, his negotiating style to browbeat and bully the adversary by imposing high tariffs and try and get the deal on his own terms. This has been seen with China, where he imposed 145 per cent tariffs and then dialled down to 35 – after talks in Geneva.
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Second, some in the Indian establishment feel that the US President has not taken very kindly to Delhi fact-checking Trump’s claims on brokering a ceasefire. Not only has PM Narendra Modi conveyed this in the phone call with Trump on June 17, but Indian ministers and officials have repeatedly denied the claim.
Despite not stating that President Trump is a “liar” — as demanded by Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi — the Indian government has forcefully contradicted the US President.
But New Delhi feels that Trump’s remarks threaten to undo the hard work made by the two countries as “strategic partners” in a relationship that was framed as the “defining partnership of the 21st century” by US President Barack Obama.
South Block is, however, trying to not get drawn into an emotional and angry response, and is projecting restraint amid the US President’s verbal tirade and social media blitzkrieg of epithets directed at India.
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While the Commerce ministry said it has “taken note” of Trump’s statement on bilateral trade and the Government is studying its implications, sources said that any response had to be shorn of emotion.
“India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective,” the Commerce ministry statement had said.
Sources said that negotiators from both sides are in touch and they have to be immune from the noise.
The diplomatic challenge is three-fold, sources said: how long can Delhi stand its ground against the US; whether India can engage with Trump’s inner circle; and whether they can overcome the distrust fuelled by the Trump’s comments in the long term.
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“We will not get drawn into the tit-for-tat response with the US President, and our negotiators have been asked to not pay attention to Trump’s unique style of public negotiations. Those are best left to be done away from the public gaze,” a source said.
India strikes balance, says US ties to ‘move forward’, Russia relationship ‘time-tested’
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described its relationship with Washington as one that would “continue to move forward despite challenges’ US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, which would kick in from August 7. The US President also said penalties would be imposed for buying weapons and oil from Russia. The MEA statement made it clear that the penalties imposed by the US would not be a hurdle in maintaining ties with Moscow. MEA: India and the US shared a comprehensive global strategic partnership anchored in shared interests, democratic values and robust people-to-people ties.
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Responding to a series of questions on the 25 per cent tariffs imposed on Indian goods by US President Donald Trump, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The India-US ties have weathered several transitions and challenges. We are confident the relationship will continue to move forward.”
At a media briefing here, Jaiswal rejected the suggestions of a strain in the India-Russia relationship following Trump’s threats, saying the ties were “time-tested and should not be seen through the prism of a third country”. The MEA statement made it clear that the penalties imposed by the US would not be a hurdle in maintaining ties with Moscow. Angered over India not finalising a trade deal with the US, Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, which would kick in from August 7. The US President also said penalties would be imposed for buying weapons and oil from Russia. “They (India) have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of energy… India will, therefore, be paying a tariff of 25 per cent, plus a penalty,” said Trump.
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Jaiswal downplayed the tariff threat saying, “We remain focused on the substantive agenda that the two countries have committed themselves to.” He said India and the US shared a comprehensive global strategic partnership anchored in shared interests, democratic values and robust people-to-people ties.
On the India-Russia ties and Trump’s outburst, the MEA said, “Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit…. India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership… sourcing of energy and defence needs are as per our requirement.”
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On buying weapons from Russia, Jaiswal said sourcing of “defence requirements was determined solely by India’s national security imperatives and strategic assessments”.
Asked specifically about the India-US defence ties, the MEA spokesperson said, “We have a strong defence partnership with the US, which has been strengthening over the last several years.”
Jaiswal said there was a potential for this partnership to grow further under the India-US ‘COMPACT’ arrangement for the 21st century. COMPACT stands for “catalysing opportunities for military partnership, accelerated commerce and technology” and was announced in February this year following a meeting Trump had with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
‘In case these foolish statements are…’: Trump orders nuclear sub deployment after Medvedev’s ‘provocative’ remarks
“Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev…, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. Trump did not clarify the exact location or nature—nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed—of the submarines he said were deployed in response to remarks by former Russian President Dmitry Medvesev. The escalating exchange between the two leaders began after Trump labelled Med Vesev the “failed former President ofRussia” and said, “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care”
A day after former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned US President Donald Trump about Moscow’s Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities following Trump’s remark telling him to “watch his words”, the US President on Friday said he had ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines in response to what he called “highly provocative” comments by the Russian leader.
“Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
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“Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances,” he added.
Trump did not clarify the exact location or nature—nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed—of the submarines he said were deployed in response to remarks by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
The escalating exchange between the two leaders began after Trump labelled Medvedev the “failed former President of Russia.”
Trump, after announcing a new tariff on India and a penalty for its trade relations with Russia, said, “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World.”
He added, “Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let’s keep it that way, and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s still President, to watch his words. He’s entering very dangerous territory!”
Medvedev responded on Thursday via Telegram, writing, “If a few words from the former president of Russia can provoke such a jittery reaction from the mighty president of the United States, then Russia must be completely in the right.”
“We’ll keep moving forward on our own path,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
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Mocking Trump’s “dead economies” remark, Medvedev referenced Russia’s Cold War-era nuclear deterrent system: “As for ‘dead economies’ and ‘dangerous territory,’ maybe he should rewatch his favorite zombie movies and remember just how dangerous the so-called ‘Dead Hand,’ which doesn’t even exist, can be.”
While Trump did not specify what exactly triggered his nuclear warning, Medvedev had earlier in the week criticised Trump’s push for more sanctions, accusing him of escalating tensions.
“Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country,” Medvedev wrote on X.
With inputs from agencies
US limits official visits to high-end Karachi hotels after threat report
The US State Department on Friday said that it has temporarily limited visits by government personnel to high-end hotels in Pakistan’s Karachi. State Department noted that in response to security threats, it may restrict official US personnel from visiting certain locations abroad. A travel advisory remains in effect for Pakistan.
A general view of commercial banks amid haze during evening hours in Karachi, Pakistan, on January 3, 2022. Reuters File
The US State Department on Friday said that it has temporarily limited visits by government personnel to high-end hotels in Pakistan’s Karachi after receiving a report of a threat.
“The US Consulate General Karachi received a report of a threat directed at high-end hotels in Karachi,” Reuters quoted the department as saying in a security alert.
“The US Consulate General in Karachi has temporarily limited visits by official US government personnel to these hotels,” it added.
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The State Department noted that in response to security threats, it may restrict official US personnel from visiting certain locations abroad, including tourist sites, hotels, markets, malls, and restaurants.
Its latest security alert advises individuals to steer clear of crowded areas, maintain a low profile, and remain vigilant in places popular with tourists and Western nationals.
A travel advisory remains in effect for Pakistan, urging US citizens to reconsider travel due to terrorism risks and the potential for armed conflict.
With inputs from agencies
India-Russia ties firm despite Trump criticism
President Donald Trump had questioned India’s growing ties with Russia. He also criticized India’s high trade tariffs and dismissed the value of its economic partnership with Moscow. India responded by calling its ties with Moscow “steady and time-tested” New Delhi maintains that its partnerships with other nations are driven by its own national goals. New Delhi often finds itself walking a fine line between East and West, officials say. But it has not turned away from Russia, even amid global tensions over the Ukraine war, they say. The two countries have increased defense cooperation, signed several trade deals, and held regular diplomatic dialogues. Both countries view each other as important allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
He also criticized India’s high trade tariffs and dismissed the value of its economic partnership with Moscow. India responded by calling its ties with Russia “steady and time-tested.” During a routine press briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Our ties with any country stand on their merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country.”
Jaiswal noted that India-Russia relations have remained strong over the decades. “We have a steady and time-tested partnership,” he said. His comments make clear that New Delhi will not let outside opinions sway its strategic decisions. India maintains that its partnerships with other nations are driven by its own national goals.
On Thursday, Trump accused India of maintaining unfair trade practices. He also claimed that India’s economic relationship with Russia offered little value. Trump’s statements came in the context of broader criticism against NATO countries and U.S. trade partners. Trump has long accused India of imposing high tariffs on American goods. He has used this point in past campaigns to argue that the U.S. is treated unfairly in global trade.
His recent remarks seemed aimed at pushing India to distance itself from Moscow. But New Delhi appears firm in its stance. India and Russia have enjoyed close ties since the Cold War era. Russia remains a key defense partner for India, supplying fighter jets, tanks, and other military equipment. The two countries also collaborate on space, nuclear energy, and oil trade.
In recent years, India has expanded its foreign relationships, including stronger ties with the United States. However, it has not turned away from Russia, even amid global tensions over the Ukraine war. India has repeatedly called for dialogue and peace while continuing to do business with Moscow. It has also increased imports of Russian oil, taking advantage of discounted rates after Western sanctions.
India’s foreign policy aims to balance strategic autonomy with global cooperation. It is a member of the Quad—a strategic forum with the U.S., Japan, and Australia—while also participating in BRICS, which includes Russia and China. New Delhi often finds itself walking a fine line between East and West. Officials say this approach allows India to protect its economic and security interests in a complex world.
Experts believe India’s stand is consistent with its tradition of non-alignment. “India is unlikely to pick sides unless its core interests are directly affected,” said a foreign policy analyst based in New Delhi. Despite occasional friction, India and the United States continue to strengthen their ties. The two countries have increased defense cooperation, signed several trade deals, and held regular diplomatic dialogues.
Both countries view each other as important allies in the Indo-Pacific region. While Trump’s comments may stir political debate, they are not expected to change India’s policy toward Russia. For now, New Delhi appears committed to maintaining its long-standing ties with Moscow while also growing its relationship with Washington.