India dismissed as "incorrect and baseless" claims made by NATO’s Secretary General suggesting that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had contacted Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the impact of punitive U.S. tariffs on India’s purchases of Russian oil.
India's foreign ministry labelled the remarks as speculative, stating on Friday that no such conversation had taken place.
In an interview with CNN, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had mentioned that U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian imports to 50%—due to India’s Russian oil purchases—had led to a conversation between Modi and Putin.
Rutte suggested that Modi had asked Putin, "Hey, I support you, but could you explain to me the strategy because I have now been hit by 50% tariffs by the United States?"
"This statement is factually incorrect and entirely baseless," said Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a regular briefing.
"At no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested. No such conversation has taken place."
When asked for a response, a NATO spokesperson stated: "We have nothing further to add to what the NATO Secretary General said."
India has capitalised on discounts in Russian oil to become the largest buyer of Russian seaborne crude since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who is working to mediate an end to the Ukraine conflict, has argued that India’s oil imports are indirectly supporting Moscow’s war efforts.
India, however, has defended its purchases of Russian oil, claiming they have helped stabilise global markets, and criticised the West for its double standards, pointing out that the European Union and the U.S. continue to buy Russian goods worth billions of dollars.
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Afghan and Uzbek business officials have discussed ways to expand trade, ease transit bottlenecks and address customs challenges facing traders, according to the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI).
Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rain, power cuts and transport disruption across Japan on Wednesday (3 June) as it tracked towards the greater Tokyo region.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Albania in recent days to protest against a luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his wife Ivanka Trump.
Armenia’s parliamentary election comes at a defining moment for the South Caucasus, a region reshaped by the Garabagh conflict and broader shifts in Russia-West relations. The outcome is increasingly seen as a signal of Armenia’s future foreign policy direction and the regional balance of power.
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Bolivia’s Defence Minister has resigned amid widening unrest over government austerity measures, which have led to protesters blocking roads into the country’s two largest cities.
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U.S. President Donald Trump will attend next month's NATO leaders' summit in Türkiye, ending weeks of uncertainty over whether he would take part in a gathering expected to focus on the future of the alliance.
All 27 European Union (EU) member countries have agreed to begin the first set of talks with Ukraine and Moldova about joining the political and economic bloc.
Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul has suggested that Berlin's strong backing of Ukraine and its close ties with Israel may have contributed to its failure to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
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