New Delhi [India], August 9 : Former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu on Saturday spoke about India's longstanding international relations, emphasising the country's commitment to maintaining and strengthening ties with various nations.
His remarks came amid ongoing tensions after a 25 per cent additional tariff was imposed on India as a penalty for purchasing Russian oil.
Speaking to reporters, former Union Minister Prabhu emphasised India's commitment to maintaining and strengthening ties with various nations, including Russia. He added that India does not harbour "enmity" with any other nation.
"India shares deep ties with several nations. Some relations have existed for a long time. We do not harbour enmity with anyone. If someone harbours enmity towards our nation, it is their concern... Our efforts to further strengthen those relations always go on. We share really old relations with Russia, when it wasn't just Russia but the USSR. So, these relations will also continue. We believe that the nation and countrymen are strong enough to face any challenges that appear before the nation in the days to come," Prabhu said.
Praising the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former Union Minister, while sharing his personal experience, asserted that PM Modi will never compromise with national interest.
"It is a reality that the tariffs that have been imposed (by the US on India) are a unilateral action. PM Narendra Modi is capable of taking whatever necessary steps are required. I have personally experienced that PM Modi will never compromise with national interest," he said.
The White House on Wednesday issued an Executive Order imposing an additional 25 percentage points in tariffs on Indian goods, raising the total levy to 50 per cent. The administration cited national security and foreign policy concerns, pointing specifically to India's ongoing imports of Russian oil.
On Thursday (US local time), US President Donald Trump said there will be no trade negotiations with India until a dispute over tariffs is resolved, following his administration's decision to double tariffs on Indian imports.
The US statement department on Thursday stated that "India is a strategic partner" and that the US is engaging with India in "full and frank dialogue" even as relations between the two countries continue to witness tension amid the tariff dispute.
On being asked whether China and other BRICS nations are trying to take the lead in organising a pushback against US trade measures, the US State Department said the dialogue with India "will continue".