'Baseless': India dismisses NATO remarks on Modi-Putin phone call

India dismisses NATO remarks on Modi-Putin phone call: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday dismissed the remarks made by NATO chief Mark Rutte about the conversation between PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Recently, NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte claimed that Donald Trump's tariffs on India are indirectly affecting Russia. He also claimed that New Delhi has been in contact with Moscow, with PM Modi pushing Putin to clarify his stand on Ukraine.

Meanwhile, MEA has now on discarded the remarks made by NATO chief on a purported conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the latter's Ukraine opinion, staing it “factually incorrect and entirely baseless”.

Mark Rutte earlier claimed that Trump's tariffs on India are indirectly affecting Russia. He also claimed that New Delhi has been in contact with Moscow, with PM Modi asking Putin to clarify his position on Ukraine.

Talking to CNN, Rutte told, "Delhi is on the phone with Putin, and Narendra Modi is asking him to explain his strategy on Ukraine because India is being hit with tariffs." 

What Ministry of External Affairs Said?

“We have seen the statements made by NATO chief Mark Rutte regarding a purported phone call between Prime Minister Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and let me be clear, this statement is factually incorrect and entirely baseless,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, said during a press briefing. He further added, “At no point has PM Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested. No such conversation has taken place.” 

He further added that India expects the leadership of an important and esteemed institution like NATO to “exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in public statements”. “Speculative or careless remarks that misrepresent the Prime Minister's engagements or suggest conversations that never occurred are unacceptable,” Jaiswal added. 

It is worthy to be mentioned here that the US President Donald Trump increased the tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent as a punishment over the Russian oil purchase.

Jaiswal further added, “India will continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”