Amid tariff tensions, India hopes for US relations ‘based on mutual respect and shared interests’

“We remain focused on the substantive agenda that our two countries have committed to and we hope that the relationship will continue to move forward based on mutual respect and shared interests,” he said, asked about the future of ties in light of the tariff dispute.

Jaiswal also pointed that defence cooperation remained a strong pillar of the relationship. “The India-US defence partnership, underpinned by foundational defence agreements, is an important pillar of the bilateral partnership,” he said. This cooperation, he added, “has strengthened across all domains.”

VIDEO | Delhi: “India-US defence ties are important pillar of bilateral partnership. This robust cooperation has strengthened across several domains. We are expecting US defence policy team to be in Delhi in mid August”, says MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia), while… pic.twitter.com/xijE0gB0YT

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 14, 2025

“We are expecting a US Defence Policy Team to be in Delhi in mid-August. The 21st edition of the joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas is also expected to take place later this month in Alaska,” Jaiswal said. “Both sides remain engaged to convene the 2+2 Intersessional meeting at the working-level towards the end of the month,” he added.

Trump last week signed an executive order imposing a 50 per cent tariff package on India, including a 25 per cent levy over New Delhi’s imports of Russian oil, effective August 27.

MEA had called the US move “unjustified and unreasonable,” vowing to take “all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”

The announcement coincided with preparations for the sixth round of bilateral trade talks, scheduled for August 25 in New Delhi.