‘No Such Conversation’: India’s Strong Rebuttal To NATO Chief Over Modi-Putin Talks Claim
India on Friday issued a sharp and unequivocal denial of claims made by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had questioned Russian President Vladimir Putin about his Ukraine strategy in a recent phone call . In a strongly-worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed Rutte’s remarks as “factually incorrect and entirely baseless,” making it clear that “no such conversation has taken place” .
The MEA took the unusual step of cautioning the head of a major international institution, stating that leaders must exercise “greater responsibility and accuracy” in their public statements . “Speculative or careless statements that misrepresent the Prime Minister’s engagements or suggest conversations that never occurred are unacceptable,” the ministry added, delivering a firm rebuke to the NATO chief .
Rutte had made the sensational claim in an interview with CNN on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly . He alleged that steep US tariffs on India, imposed over its purchase of Russian oil, were having a “big impact on Russia” and had prompted Modi to call Putin . “Delhi is on the phone with Vladimir Putin in Moscow,” Rutte had claimed, suggesting Modi was pressing Putin to “explain the strategy” in Ukraine due to the economic fallout from the US tariffs .
The diplomatic flare-up comes against the backdrop of significant trade tensions between India and the US, after the Trump administration doubled tariffs on many Indian goods to 50% . While Washington has justified the move as a way to pressure Moscow, New Delhi has termed it “unfair and unjustified” . In its statement, the MEA reiterated India’s long-standing position that its energy imports are driven by national interest and the need to ensure affordable energy for its citizens .
