North Goa: Former Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar on September 10 lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Swadeshi foreign policy,” crediting it for changing the “mood” and “tone” of President Donald Trump on discussing tariffs and other “trade barriers” between the two countries.
Akbar also referred to National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval as the Prime Minister’s “global crisis manager,” saying that most of the negotiations are happening “quietly” and not in press conferences.
The message, he says, has been given to the US that India “will not be bullied,” after PM Modi took a stand.
“President Trump’s change of mood, change of tone, change of language is powerful evidence of the effectiveness of Prime Minister Modi’s Swadeshi foreign policy. When Prime Minister Modi took the stand, basically, it was based on a very simple fact that India will not be bullied,” Akbar told ANI in Goa’s Mapusa.
The former minister said the message has been clearly conveyed to Washington, adding that people “often underestimate Indian nationalism.”
“I hope that President Trump’s acolytes, his trade officials, have also heard what the President has just said and I hope that they now understand the merits of silence. Being abusive towards India will not lead to counter-abuse because we deal a mature hand, but it will be counterproductive,” he added.
The recent exchange on X and Truth Social between the two leaders has also affirmed the friendship of both countries, with the meeting mentioned by both President Trump and PM Modi expected to take place in a few weeks, Akbar said.
Speaking about NSA Ajit Doval’s role, Akbar said, “We can see signs that the Prime Minister’s global crisis manager is NSA Ajit Doval. I think the work that is being done quietly, not through press conferences, is having a very positive impact because India and America are natural friends and this natural friendship, as Prime Minister Modi says, has endless possibilities.”
NSA Doval had met US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in January of this year. Later on, after the imposition of Tariffs by the US as a penalty for buying Russian oil, the NSA also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi said ongoing trade negotiations between India and the United States would help “unlock the limitless potential” of the bilateral partnership, after US President Donald Trump called for addressing “trade barriers” between the two nations.
In a post on X, PM Modi described New Delhi and Washington as “natural partners” and said he was confident about the progress of the negotiations. The PM also expressed his willingness to speak to Trump.
“India and the US are close friends and natural partners. I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership. Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest. I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump. We will work together to secure a brighter, more prosperous future for both our people,” PM Modi wrote on X on Wednesday, which was reposted by Trump.
Trump also expressed confidence in reaching a “successful conclusion” and looked forward to speaking with PM Modi in the upcoming weeks. His remark comes days after he called the India-US ties a “very special relationship” and affirmed that he and PM Modi would always be friends, asserting that there is “nothing to worry about”.
New Delhi is facing global uncertainties due to heightened economic tensions following the US imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, including an additional 25 per cent due to its purchase of Russian crude oil, which, according to Washington, fuels Moscow’s efforts in its conflict with Ukraine. (With inputs from ANI)
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