India still a ‘strategic partner’? US vows ‘frank’ talks; trade gap, Russian oil in spotlight

The United States has reaffirmed its view of India as a “strategic partner” while acknowledging ongoing tensions over trade and energy policy, with the State Department stressing the importance of “full and frank dialogue” to address differences.Responding to questions about the state of US–India relations at a press briefing on Thursday, principal deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State Tommy Pigott said, “India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in a full and frank dialogue. That will continue.”Also read: MEA official calls Donald Trump’s tariff hike a ‘unilateral decision’; says both sides were ‘very close to a solution’ He added that President Donald Trump had been “very clear” in outlining his concerns over issues such as the trade imbalance and India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. “Addressing those concerns through his actions, he’s spoken about them, whether it’s about the purchase of Russian oil or about the trade imbalance. Addressing those concerns is important. Ultimately, this is about a frank and full dialogue. That’s what it means to advance American interests, that’s what it means to have full diplomatic dialogue with partners to address concerns that we need to see addressed,” Pigott said.His comments came amid a fresh flare-up in the tariff dispute between the two countries. Earlier in the day, President Trump announced there would be no trade negotiations with India until the dispute was resolved. “No, not until we get it resolved,” he told ANI in the Oval Office when asked if talks might resume following his administration’s decision to double tariffs on Indian imports.Also read: Trump’s 50% tariffs on India leave exporters troubledAn executive order issued on Wednesday imposed an additional 25 percentage points on Indian goods, raising the total levy to 50 per cent. The White House cited national security and foreign policy concerns, pointing to India’s imports of Russian oil, which it claimed posed an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States.Asked if Washington was concerned that worsening ties could push India closer to China, Pigott repeated that the US approach was to address disagreements directly. “This is about an honest, full and frank dialogue about real concerns that this administration has, that the President has outlined very clearly,” he said.The diplomatic exchanges coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday, during which the two leaders pledged to deepen their strategic partnership in trade, energy, technology, defence, health and other sectors. The conversation came a day after Brazil, like India, was targeted by new US tariffs over Russian oil imports.Ministry of external affairs has called the US move “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable” and vowed to take “all actions necessary to protect its national interests.”