India Slams NATO Chief Mark Rutte Over “Baseless” Claim on Modi-Putin Talks

New Delhi: India on Friday issued a strong rebuttal to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s remarks suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin about U.S. tariffs, calling the claim “factually incorrect” and “entirely baseless.”

“We have seen the statement by NATO Secretary-General Mr. Mark Rutte regarding a purported phone conversation between Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. This statement is factually incorrect and entirely baseless. At no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested. No such conversation has taken place,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during a press briefing in New Delhi.

The MEA expressed disappointment at the remarks, stressing that an institution like NATO should 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 said.

Rutte, speaking to CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour at the UN General Assembly summit in New York, had claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on India over Russian oil imports had pushed New Delhi to pressure Moscow. He went on to allege that Modi had called Putin to seek clarity on Russia’s Ukraine strategy.

Quoting what he suggested Modi told Putin, Rutte said: “I support you, but could you explain to me your strategy because I have now been hit by these 50 per cent tariffs by the United States.”

Slamming the NATO chief, India reiterated its stance on energy security: “India’s energy imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. India will continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” Jaiswal said.

This is not the first time Rutte has targeted India. In July, during his visit to Washington, he had warned that India, China, and Brazil could face severe sanctions if they continued trade with Russia. India, however, has consistently pushed back, rejecting what it terms NATO’s “double standards” on sanctions and reaffirming its independent foreign policy.