National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval reportedly told US Senator Marco Rubio that India would not be bullied by the United States, months before the announcement of the trade deal between India and the US. United States President Donald Trump announced on Monday that India and the US had reached a trade agreement.
Doval informed Rubio that India would also be willing to wait out Trump's term, but wanted the US administration to dial down their public criticism so that relations could be brought back on track, as reported by Bloomberg.
The meeting is said to have taken place in early September, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
This exchange took place months ahead of the formal announcement of the trade deal, which would involve lower tariffs and expanded market access. While the full details of the deal were not immediately clear, India has confirmed the tariff reduction aspect of the agreement.
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In a post on Truth Social, the US President stated that American tariffs would be reduced and claimed that India would cease purchasing Russian oil.
However, months prior to the trade deal, NSA Ajit Doval visited Washington, where he told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that he wanted to move beyond the tensions between the two nations and resume trade negotiations, Bloomberg reported.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also welcomed the announcement, expressing gratitude to President Trump for lowering duties on "Made in India" products.
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While PM Modi's post confirmed the tariff relief, it did not explicitly mention a trade deal or commitments regarding Russian oil purchases or the zero tariffs on US goods.
In a post on X, PM Modi stated, “When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.”
“President Trump’s leadership is vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity. India fully supports his efforts for peace. I look forward to working closely with him to take our partnership to unprecedented heights,” PM Modi added.