New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refuted claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a recent telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the MEA, no such conversation took place.
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue, stating, "On the question of whether there was a conversation or a telephone call between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, I am not aware of any conversation yesterday between the two leaders".
Trump's claim comes amidst ongoing discussions regarding energy cooperation between the United States and India. Just recently, Trump stated that PM Modi assured him that India would stop buying Russian oil. "He's assured me there will be no oil purchased from Russia," Trump said. "You know, you can't do it immediately. It's a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon," he added.
In response to ANI's question about whether he views India as a reliable partner, Trump said, "Yeah, sure. He's (PM Narendra Modi) a friend of mine. We have a great relationship". "I was not happy that India was buying oil. And he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That's a big stop. Now we've got to get China to do the same thing". "He's a friend of mine. We have a great relationship. He just said that two days ago, as you know," the Republican leader added.
The MEA has also addressed the issue of India's oil import policies, clarifying that the nation prioritizes the interests of Indian consumers in a volatile energy market. The MEA maintains that its energy sourcing is broad-based and diversified to ensure stable prices and secure supplies. "India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
The relationship between India and the U.S. has been characterized by periods of both cooperation and friction. In June earlier this year, a 35-minute phone call between PM Narendra Modi and then U.S. President Donald Trump revealed India's stance on terrorism and Pakistan. The call, made at Trump's request after the G7 summit in Canada, saw Modi reject any U.S. role in mediating the Kashmir conflict, calling Trump's earlier 'truce role' a bluff.
Furthermore, there have been reports suggesting that PM Modi has avoided phone calls from President Trump due to distrust, although MEA officials have dismissed these reports as misleading.
India has been actively engaged in trade talks with the U.S., the EU, and Oman.
