India will not bow down… we will wait for Trump’s term to end: Doval gave Rubio a blunt message on trade deal
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): US President Donald Trump has recently announced an 18 percent trade tariff on India. It is being reported that India’s firm refusal to compromise on its national interests has been a key reason behind this move. According to a media report, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval travelled to the United States last September with a clear and direct message for US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
As per the report, Doval told Rubio that India would not bow to threats from President Trump or his top aides. He made it clear that India has faced unfavourable US administrations in the past and is prepared to wait until the current President’s term ends rather than act under pressure.
Doval–Rubio meeting after Modi’s global outreach
The report states that in early September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China. Following these engagements, and as part of efforts to stabilise ties with the US, Doval was sent to Washington. During this visit, Doval met Rubio.
Indian officials familiar with the meeting said Doval conveyed that while India was willing to exercise patience until Trump’s term concludes, it also expected the US President and his associates to refrain from publicly criticising India, as such statements harm bilateral relations.
Signs of easing tensions after blunt message
Soon after this meeting, indications of easing tensions began to emerge. On September 16, President Trump called Prime Minister Modi on his birthday and praised his work. By the end of the year, the two leaders reportedly spoke four times over the phone about the possibility of reducing tariffs. However, no public indication of a deal was given by either side.
Many Indian officials were therefore surprised when Trump later shared a post on social media regarding the trade deal. According to the report, Doval’s September meeting with Rubio signalled to the US that India views America as a long-term partner and does not want relations to deteriorate further.
India balances ties while protecting strategic autonomy
There is a broad view in India that US capital, technology and defence cooperation are important to counter China and achieve Prime Minister Modi’s goal of making India a developed economy by 2047. The arrival of new US Ambassador Sergio Gor in India in December further suggested serious efforts to improve relations. Gor, a former senior White House official and close associate of Trump and Rubio, described the tensions as “disagreements between real friends” in his first public address.
Despite positive signals, India remains cautious in dealing with the Trump administration to preserve its strategic autonomy. Indian officials point to a widely shared image of Prime Minister Modi holding hands and smiling with Presidents Putin and Xi as a message that India has alternative options. Putin’s grand reception during his December visit to India is also seen as part of this broader signalling.
Trade diversification beyond the US
Recently, India concluded a free trade agreement with the European Union after nearly two decades of negotiations. This came just months after a trade deal with the United Kingdom. These developments underline India’s determination to diversify its trade and strategic partnerships despite temporary hurdles with the US.
In the same direction, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to host Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva later this month, further reinforcing India’s multi-aligned global approach.