The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday dismissed remarks by North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who had claimed that United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases were forcing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press Russian President Vladimir Putin to “explain his strategy” on Ukraine.

“[NATO chief’s] statement is factually incorrect and entirely baseless,” the ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press conference. “At no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested…We expect the leadership of an important and esteemed institution like NATO to exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in public statements.”

In an interview to American news network CNN on Thursday, Rutte had said that Trump’s tariffs on Indian goods were impacting Russia.

He said: “Delhi is now on the phone with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and Narendra Modi is asking, ‘I support you, but could you explain me your strategy because I have now been hit by these 50% tariffs by the United States’.”

This came against the backdrop of strained ties between New Delhi and Washington, mainly because of Trump having imposed so-called reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods and punitive levies for purchasing Russian oil amid the Ukraine war.

On Monday, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New York to accelerate the trade negotiations between the two countries, according to reports.

Negotiators from India and the US had completed a fifth round of trade talks in Washington in July. However, talks between the two countries had subsequently been stalled after the United States’ 25% “reciprocal” tariffs took effect on August 7, and an additional punitive levy of 25% took effect on August 27.

At the time, New Delhi said that it was “extremely unfortunate” that the US had chosen to impose additional tariffs on India “for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest”.

On Friday, Jaiswal reiterated India’s position.

“India’s energy imports are meant to ensure a predictable and affordable energy cost to the Indian consumer,” he said. “India will continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”

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