• Source:JND
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India-US relations: Amid a dynamic situation in India-US relations following US President Donald Trump's back-to-back controversial comments against New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs admitted the geopolitical shift but added that the "partnership has weathered several transitions and challenges." It said that New Delhi is confident that the relationship will continue to move forward.

"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," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a weekly press briefing on Friday.

Trump's sharp comment on India

The statement from MEA came a day after Trump mounted a sharp attack on India and Russia for their close ties and said that the two countries can take their "dead economies down together". The US president's fresh criticism of New Delhi and Moscow came hours after announcing 25 per cent tariffs against India, plus a "penalty" for its trade with Russia.

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"I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care," he said. "We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World," he added.

Trump's tariff war on India

Trump on Wednesday announced the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from India starting August 1, plus an unspecified penalty for buying Russian crude oil and military equipment. The surprise announcement came a day after Indian officials said that a US trade team would visit from August 25 to negotiate a trade deal.

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The announcement is being seen as a pressure tactic to get New Delhi to agree to demands made by the US, which has, in recent days, got favourable trade deals with major partners like Japan, the UK and the European Union. Trump termed India's trade policies as "most strenuous and obnoxious". "All things not good! India will therefore be paying a tariff of 25 per cent, plus a penalty for the above, starting on August first," Trump said in a social media post.

(With inputs from agency)