NEW DELHI: India on Friday brushed aside U.S. President Donald Trump's diatribe, saying the partnership between the two countries has "weathered" several transitions and challenges.
The comments by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came a day after Trump imposed 25 per cent tariff on India and described the Indian economy as "dead".
"India and the United States share a comprehensive global strategic partnership anchored in shared interests, democratic values, and robust people-to-people ties," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing.
He noted that the bilateral partnership has endured multiple transitions and challenges over time.
"We remain committed to advancing the substantive agenda shared by both nations and are confident that our relationship will continue to progress," Jaiswal added.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said they have taken note of Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, adding that the government is studying and reviewing the move, while choosing not to respond to the U.S. President’s taunt about Pakistan potentially selling oil to India.
“We have nothing to say,” Jaiswal stated.
"Who knows, maybe they’ll be selling oil to India someday!" Trump said while announcing a trade deal with Pakistan on Thursday and stating that the country will jointly develop its oil reserves.
Standing by its decision to purchase oil from Russia, India stated that its choices are guided by the prevailing global scenario and the best available deals in the market to secure the country’s energy needs.
"Our ties with any country stand on their own merit and should not be seen through the prism of a third country. As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership," Jaiswal said.
“In securing our energy needs, we are guided by what is on offer in the markets and by the prevailing global circumstances,” he added.
Responding to questions about defence cooperation, Jaiswal highlighted the robust nature of India-U.S. defence ties, which he said have significantly deepened in recent years.
"There is considerable potential for this partnership to expand further," he noted.
The MEA spokesperson was responding to a volley of questions on Trump's tariffs, his diatribe against India as well as his critical remarks on New Delhi's trade ties with Russia.
The US president on Wednesday announced the 25 per cent tariff on India along with an unspecified "penalty" for buying "vast majority" of Russian military equipment and crude oil, adding India has the "most strenuous and obnoxious" non-monetary trade barriers.
As India was analysing the potential impact of the US tariffs on its exports, Trump again blasted New Delhi for its trade links with Russia, indicating a serious strain in the bilateral ties.
"I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care."
Asked about the US criticism of India for its energy and military procurements from Russia, Jaiswal did not give a direct reply but said the broader approach is based on national interest.
"In securing our energy needs, we are guided by what is on offer in the markets, and by the prevailing global circumstances," he said.
It is learnt some of the Indian refiners have put a temporary "pause" on procurement of Russian crude oil in view of market dynamics.
"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," Jaiswal said in response to a question.
"The sourcing of our defence requirements is determined solely by our national security imperatives and strategic assessments," he said.
Jaiswal also noted that India has a strong defence partnership with the US.
"We have a strong defence partnership with the US 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," he said.
The COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) is aimed at driving transformative change across key pillars of cooperation.
It was launched following talks between Modi and Trump in February.
The India-US defence cooperation has been on an upswing in the last few years.
In June 2016, the US designated India a "Major Defence Partner" paving way for sharing of critical military equipment and technology.
The two countries have also inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.
The two sides also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 which provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for the sale of high-end technology from the US to India.
In October 2020, India and the US sealed the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) agreement to further boost bilateral defence ties.
The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.
(With inputs from PTI)
