White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday praised India’s role as a strategic ally in the Indo-Pacific region during a press briefing. She continued to say that the U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share a strong personal relationship.
“India remains a very strategic ally in the Asia Pacific and the President has a very good relationship with Prime Minister Modi, and he will continue to have that,” she said while responding to a question from ANI about how the U.S. views China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
She continued to say that Trump had mentioned last week that the US and India are very close to a trade deal, and it remains true. Leavitt said she had spoken to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce about the trade deal, who was in the Oval Office with the President. “They are finalising these agreements, and you’ll hear from the President and his trade team very soon when it comes to India.”
Trump had recently stated that the U.S. was seeking “full trade barrier dropping”, while speaking about reciprocal tariffs. He also mentioned greater access to the Indian market, though he admitted uncertainty about achieving that goal.
“India, I think we are going to reach a deal where we have the right to go and do trade. Right now, it’s restricted. You can’t walk in there, you can’t even think about it. We are looking to get a full trade barrier dropping, which is unthinkable and I am not sure that that is going to happen. But as of this moment, we agree that going to India and trade...” Trump said.
With just over a week to go before the July 9 deadline for new trade agreements, the United States and India are working to finalise the Bilateral Trade Agreement during the 90-day pause on tariff escalations.
External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is in the U.S. to attend the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. He inaugurated an exhibition at the United Nations titled “The Human Cost of Terrorism,” on Monday.
The Quad, short for Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a strategic group formed by the United States, India, Japan, and Australia. It began as a response to growing concerns about China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific and the joint humanitarian response to the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. It has since evolved into a platform for cooperation on defense, maritime security, tech, climate, and more.
Though not a formal military alliance, it regularly conducts joint drills and diplomatic meetings to promote a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
