India on Thursday dismissed NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte’s comments about an alleged telephone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling the claim “factually incorrect and entirely baseless.”
Speaking to CNN, Rutte cited by News Agency said New Delhi was “on the phone with Putin,” with Modi urging the Kremlin leader to explain his Ukraine strategy because India was being hit by U.S. tariffs.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at the weekly briefing that “no such conversation has taken place.” He added that India expects the head of a “respected institution like NATO” to show greater responsibility and accuracy, stressing that speculative remarks misrepresenting the prime minister’s engagements are unacceptable.
Jaiswal also addressed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to double tariffs on certain Indian goods to 50 percent, a move the White House framed as a response to India’s purchases of Russian oil. The spokesperson said New Delhi’s energy imports are aimed at securing predictable and affordable supplies for domestic consumers and that India “will continue taking all necessary measures” to protect its economic interests.
Trade negotiations between the two countries remain on track. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in New York this week for further talks, and both sides have agreed to work toward an early, mutually beneficial trade agreement following a 16 September meeting in New Delhi.