It was the first briefing by MEA of the year 2026. The hall was full with reporters of all hues, print, electronic & digital, foreign correspondents too. It wasn’t full because it was the first Press Conference of the new year. But because the heat that was generated by Trump globally with his hyperbolic statements and speeches in the last few weeks put the world on a rollercoaster ride. Clarity on issues and answer to some pertinent questions were sought by the information hungry inquisitive patriotic minds.
The US President has almost made the world spin. Starting with the abduction of Venezuelan President Maduro to threatening mindboggling tariffs on countries, to his guffaws on Air Force One on Indian PM Modi not calling him up, to saying “Sir, may I see you please”, and that “Modi knows that I am not happy with him, he wants to make me happy”, he was at his hysteric best. Is this the President of the largest democracy of the world, America, or a freak!
The atmosphere was nationalistic. The displeasure and angst at our PM being mocked and humiliated, going without a rebuttal was the overbearing concern. Questions ranged from recently threateningly spiked tariff Bill being passed by US Senate having a catastrophic fallout, to why is there no response to Trump’s antics from our side. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal batted all of them diplomatically. India’s stand always measured and within the realm of wait and watch, may position her in a tight spot sometime. Irrespective of our global standing and image, afterall domestic audience too has some demands. The Opposition is at the Prime Minister’s neck.
Deal Seals vs Deal BreakersBowling started with the bill of 500% tariff being brought in by US in which India’s name figures as well, as per US Senator Lindsey Graham. It relates to countries buying Russian oil on the charges of greasing its war machinery against Ukraine. To this MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal answered, “We are aware of the proposed bill. We are closely following the developments…. we are guided by the evolving dynamics in the global market as also the imperative to secure affordable energy for our 1.4 billion people through diverse sources to meet their energy security needs.’’…. What else can a Diplomat say where, in this case, the G2G relations are on a razor’s edge with a bilateral trade deal waiting in limbo.
On US Commerce Secretary Lutnik’s remarks that the trade deal that was negotiated and agreed upon with India earlier does not exist on paper anymore, Jaiswal stood firm and clarified, “We have seen the remarks. India and the US were committed to negotiating a bilateral trade agreement with the US as far back as February 13 last year. Since then, the two sides have held multiple rounds of negotiation to arrive at a balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement.”
Interestingly the comment by Lutnik that the deal did not come through because ‘Modi did not call’, took the cake. Was it really so! Can a deal be killed just for a phone call! With Trump, it can. Diplomacy is all about gestures & interests…., relations hardly. Jaiswal strongly clarified “Prime Minister and President Trump have spoken on phone on eight occasions during 2025, covering different aspects of our wide-ranging partnership.” Irrespective, maybe ‘that’ call didn’t go!
“On several occasions, we have been close to a deal. The characterization of these discussions in the reported remarks is not accurate. We remain interested in a mutually beneficial trade deal between two complementary economies and look forward to concluding it,” said Jaiswal.
Incidentally the give away here from Lutnik’s side is that not just there is an acknowledgement by the US official on India and US reaching an understanding on a trade deal later to be backtracked but also that Trump was hurt on not getting a ‘call from PM Modi’.
Trump has used reciprocal tariffs and threats of further increases as leverage in trade negotiations with India. Energy sourcing from other countries particularly Russia has been a sticking point in US India relations since Trump 2.0. “Our position on the larger question of energy sourcing is well known…In this endeavour, we are guided by the evolving dynamics of the global market and by the imperative to secure affordable energy from diverse sources to meet the energy security needs of our 1.4 billion people,” said Jaiswal.
Next, did PM Modi request appointment with US President Trump, as claimed by Trump! For context, speaking at the House GOP Member Retreat, on the demand of early delivery of Apaches that India had ordered years ago, he said, "India ordered 68 Apaches, and Prime Minister Modi came to see me. Sir, May I see you, please? Yes," Trump said recounting the interaction.
Answering this ‘Star’ question Jaiswal said that the two leaders share a “friendly relationship” and “have always addressed each other with mutual respect as per diplomatic norms.” Hmm….There was, however, a sense of discomfort in Delhi over Trump’s tone.
Revelations Questions on FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) issue regarding lobbying with the White House, where Lutnik stated that at the Indian Ambassador’s house party he was requested to speak to Trump about reducing tariffs on India, and whether it is a normal practice that India, for meeting counterparts, meetings with ambassador-designate or even meetings of the External Affairs Minister with security establishments in the United States, need a lobbyist and does that show that India's reach within the Trump administration has completely broken down, required clarification.
Jaiswal explained, “This is a normal practice in Washington D.C. and in the United States of America that countries, embassies, business establishments and private organizations, hire lobbyists and consultants. We, on our part, the Indian mission, has been hiring such lobbying firms to strength outreach since the 1950s the details of which are available in public domain. And so is the case with us.” This is in context to the fact that MEA has been denying any talks with the US administration on trade during Op Sindoor when the FARA filings show four calls made on behalf of the Indian Embassy by a particular lobbyist to the White House and to the US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, specifically about Operation SINDOOR, a report by The Hindu stated.
The oscillating disposition of Trump’s India policy has been seen since his second term began. Sometime back Trump claimed that India had offered to cut tariffs ‘way down’ or even to zero, stressing his pressure on New Delhi to open its markets, then, calling Modi a good guy and a good friend in the same pitch he blames India for not coming around on trade & business. The fact being that in the past decade, India has significantly expanded defence acquisitions from the United States, buying transport aircraft, helicopters and surveillance platforms. The Apache attack helicopter is a critical element of India’s Army and Air Force modernisation efforts.
Friction points between India and US range from Trade, Immigration, Migration, Geopolitics that includes Russia ties, Energy purchases, Business Impact including IT sector stress, Diaspora Relations and Sanctions/Energy as also social media vetting for HI B visa’s. The Trump administration imposed a dramatic $100,000 annual application fee on new H-1B visas. Issues persist in agriculture, e-commerce, and pharmaceuticals, where the U.S. wants greater access and India maintains regulatory control. Deportations of undocumented Indians, raising human-rights and bilateral cooperation concerns continue to be a diplomatic sticking point with Washington.
