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India-US trade deal 'very close,' says White House as Trump's tariff deadline nears
The White House has called India a key strategic partner and said a long-awaited trade deal between the two countries could soon be finalised, as talks are close to completion. read more
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks to members of the media, in the briefing room at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Friday. Reuters
The White House on Monday reaffirmed the strong ties between India and the United States, describing India as 'a key strategic ally' and indicating that a long-awaited trade deal could be finalised soon and that negotiations are 'very close' to reaching an agreement.
At a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke about ongoing trade talks with India and referred to President Donald Trump's recent comments suggesting that the agreement is close to being completed.
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'Yes, the President said that last week, and it remains true,' Leavitt said. 'I just spoke to our Secretary of Commerce about it. He was in the Oval Office with the President. They are finalising these agreements, and you'll hear from the President and his trade team very soon when it comes to India.'
Leavitt also responded to a question from the press about how President Trump views China's expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific and its impact on US-India relations.
'India remains a very strategic ally in the Asia-Pacific, and the President has a very good relationship with Prime Minister Modi, and he will continue to have that,' she said.
The reaffirmation of strong ties with India comes as the United States continues to strengthen alliances in the Indo-Pacific to maintain a balance of power amid growing regional tensions.
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India Gazette
15 minutes ago
- India Gazette
"Trend lines of India-US bilateral ties very positive": Jaishankar expresses hope for successful trade-deal
Washington, DC [US], July 1 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has hailed the relationship between India and the US, particularly over the course of 25 years noting that the two countries have enjoyed strong and 'very positive' ties under the last five US Presidents. In an interview with the Newsweek, Jaishankar who is currently on a visit to the US used the financial term 'trend lines' to emphasise that the ties between India and the US at the end of every presidency spread over a span of past five US presidents have been better than they were at the beginning of the presidency. The External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expressed hope that India and the US will reach a successful conclusion to the trade US-India trade deal is being finalised by trade negotiators in the White House. 'We are in the middle, hopefully more than the middle, of a very intricate trade negotiation. Obviously, my hope would be that we bring it to a successful conclusion, I cannot guarantee, because there's another party to that discussion, but no question,' Jaishankar said in the Newsweek interview. 'I believe it's possible, and I think we'll have to watch this space for the next few days,' the EAM said. Jaishankar emphasised that the ties between India and the US at the end of every presidency spread over a span of past five US presidents have been better than they were at the beginning of the presidency. Jaishankar noted that the trend line of India-US ties over the past 25 years has been 'very strong' due to structural factors that work in favour of the relationship with, economics, technology, education, security, and energy acting as 'drivers of the relationship.' On how he sees India-US partnership evolving over the next two years, Jaishankar said, 'I would say, again, I say this over multiple administrations, but particularly for the last 10-11 years, if you look at the trend line of the US-India relations, the trend lines have been very positive.' 'Just think back over the last five presidents of America Clinton, George W Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden, back to Trump, five very different presidents and yet at the end of every presidency, if you were to do a dipstick on India US relations you'll find it's better off than it was at the beginning of that presidency and the trend line over the 20 over the last 25 years has actually been very very strong because I think there are structural factors that work for the relationship, that the economics, the technology the human bridges, the education, the security, the energy, all these are today drivers of the relationship.' He noted that ties can never be free of issues or differences, but the two sides should have the ability to address them and maintain that trend in a positive direction. He also spoke about the issues with regards to India-US ties when he served as India's Ambassador to the US. He said, 'Now, are there arguments, are there differences, are there episodes, sure it happens, it won't be for the first time I mean, in fact at every one of these presidencies, I can think of something which at that time was a fiction point. I mean I remember even the time when I was ambassador here I mean I I literally came in a few days after we had a problem of a one of related to one of our diplomats in the city and then I had to deal with 301 issues with compulsory licensing controversies, with plans to sell F-16 aircraft to Pakistan, we dealt with it. So, it's not you know, relationships will never be free of issues, even I would say differences. I think what matters is the ability to deal with it and to keep that trend going in the positive direction.' EAM Jaishankar also expressed hope that India and the US will reach a successful conclusion to the trade negotiations. 'Yes, we are in the middle, hopefully more than the middle of a very intricate trade negotiation. Obviously, my hope would be that we bring it to a successful conclusion, I cannot guarantee it because there's another party to that discussion. But no question we do think today that that trade you know there will have to be give and as people in the US may have views about India, people in India too have views about the US and we will have to find a kind of a middle ground there, I believe it's possible and I think we'll have to watch the space for the next few days,' Jaishankar said.. India is negotiating a trade deal with the US, known as the bilateral trade agreement (BTA), the first tranche of which is expected to be completed by the fall of 2025. Jaishankar is on an official visit to the US at the invitation of US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to participate in the next edition of the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting (QFMM), scheduled for July 1. During the meeting, the leaders will build upon the discussions held during the last QFMM, which took place in Washington, DC, on January 21. In the press release, MEA stated, 'They will exchange views on regional and global developments, particularly those concerning the Indo-Pacific, and review the progress made on various Quad initiatives in the run-up to the Quad Leaders' Summit, which India will host. The Ministers are also expected to deliberate on new proposals to advance the shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.' Before arriving in Washington, DC, Jaishankar was in New York, where he inaugurated an exhibition at the United Nations on 'The Human Cost of Terrorism,' highlighting the need to expose state sponsorship of terrorism. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
17 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Thailand's constitutional court suspends Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty pending a case seeking her dismissal, adding to mounting pressure on a government under fire on multiple fronts. The government is expected to be led by a deputy prime minister in a caretaker capacity while the court decides the case against Paetongtarn, (Reuters) The court in a statement said it had accepted a petition from 36 senators that accuses Paetongtarn of dishonesty and breaching ethnical standards in violation of the constitution over the leak of a politically sensitive telephone conversation with Cambodia's influential former leader Hun Sen. The government is expected to be led by a deputy prime minister in a caretaker capacity while the court decides the case against Paetongtarn, who will remain in the cabinet as the new culture minister following a reshuffle. The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on her suspension. The leaked call with the veteran Cambodian politician triggered domestic outrage and has left Paetongtarn's coalition with a razer-thin majority, with a key party abandoning the alliance and expected to soon seek a no confidence vote in parliament, as protest groups demand the premier resigns. Also read: Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra apologises for leaked phone call with Cambodian leader During a June 15 call intended to defuse escalating border tensions with Cambodia, Paetongtarn, 38, kowtowed before Hun Sen and criticised a Thai army commander, a red line in a country where the military has significant clout. She has apologised and said her remarks were a negotiating tactic. Family Crisis Paetongtarn's battles after only 10 months in power underline the declining strength of the Pheu Thai Party, the populist juggernaut of the billionaire Shinawatra dynasty that has dominated Thai elections since 2001, enduring military coups and court rulings that have toppled multiple governments and prime ministers. It has been a baptism of fire for political novice Paetongtarn, who thrust into power as Thailand's youngest premier and replacement for Srettha Thavisin, who was dismissed by the Constitutional Court for violating ethics by appointing a minister who was once jailed. Paetongtarn's government has also been struggling to revive a stuttering economy and her popularity has declined sharply, with a June 19-25 opinion poll released at the weekend showing her approval rating sinking to 9.2% from 30.9% in March. Paetongtarn is not alone in her troubles, with influential father Thaksin Shinawatra, the driving force behind her government, facing legal hurdles of his own in two different courts this month. Divisive tycoon Thaksin, according to his lawyer, appeared at his first hearing at Bangkok's Criminal Court on Tuesday on charges he insulted Thailand's powerful monarchy, a serious offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. Thaksin denies the allegations and has repeatedly pledged allegiance to the crown. The case stems from a 2015 media interview Thaksin gave while in self-imposed exile, from which he returned in 2023 after 15 years abroad to serve a prison sentence for conflicts of interest and abuse of power. Thaksin, 75, dodged jail and spent six months in hospital detention on medical grounds before being released on parole in February last year. The Supreme Court will this month scrutinise that hospital stay and could potentially send him back to jail.
India Today
17 minutes ago
- India Today
Ghana's strategic significance for India: A partnership beyond borders
This historic visit—the first bilateral Prime Ministerial visit from India to Ghana in three decades—underscores Ghana's growing significance for India's foreign policy objectives and economic ambitions. As India consolidates its position as a voice of the Global South and seeks to deepen its engagement with Africa, Ghana emerges as a crucial partner that offers strategic, economic, and diplomatic advantages. advertisementHistorical foundations of an enduring partnership The India-Ghana relationship is built on solid historical foundations that predate Ghana's independence. India's commitment to Ghana's freedom struggle was evident when New Delhi championed Ghana's cause at the United Nations even before the West African nation achieved independence in 1957. This early support established a precedent of solidarity that continues to define bilateral relations diplomatic presence in Ghana began in 1953 with the establishment of a representative office in Accra, four years before Ghana's independence. Full diplomatic relations were formalised immediately after Ghana's independence, reflecting India's recognition of Ghana as a significant partner in the newly decolonised world. This seven-decade relationship has evolved from anti-colonial solidarity to a multifaceted partnership encompassing trade, investment, development cooperation, and strategic imperatives and trade dynamicsadvertisementGhana's economic significance for India cannot be overstated. With bilateral trade currently valued at approximately $3 billion, Ghana represents one of India's most important trading partners in West Africa. The economic relationship is characterised by complementary strengths: Ghana's rich natural resources, particularly gold which accounts for over 70 percent of India's imports from the country, meet India's growing industrial and jewelry market position as Africa's top gold-producing nation and its emergence as the continent's eighth-largest oil producer make it an attractive partner for India's energy security and resource diversification strategies. Beyond traditional commodities, Ghana's economic transformation presents opportunities for Indian businesses across multiple sectors including agriculture, healthcare, technology, and infrastructure timing of Modi's visit is particularly significant as it coincides with Ghana's deep economic restructuring under President John Dramani Mahama's new administration. This presents India with opportunities to participate in Ghana's economic modernisation while expanding its own commercial footprint in West Africa. The focus on agriculture during the upcoming visit aligns with both countries' priorities—India's expertise in agricultural technology and Ghana's need to enhance food security and rural geographic and regional importanceGhana's strategic location in coastal West Africa positions it as India's gateway to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the broader African Union. In a region experiencing significant political instability, Ghana stands out as a beacon of democratic governance and peaceful transitions of power. Since 1996, Ghana has conducted eight consecutive free and fair elections with peaceful transfers of power—a remarkable achievement in a region plagued by military coups and political democratic stability makes Ghana an ideal partner for India's African engagement strategy. Ghana's role as a reliable democratic anchor in West Africa aligns with India's vision of supporting democratic institutions and governance frameworks across the Global South. The country's consistent pursuit of policies promoting private-sector growth and foreign investment creates an enabling environment for Indian businesses and and security cooperationGhana's significance extends to the security domain, where cooperation assumes critical importance given the evolving threat landscape in West Africa. Ghana's position as a key contributor to African peacekeeping missions and its regular participation in joint military training exercises demonstrate its commitment to regional security. For India, partnering with Ghana on defence cooperation offers opportunities to expand its defence exports and security partnerships in emerging threat of violent extremist organisations operating in the Sahel region, with Ghana's neighbors—Burkina Faso, Togo, and Cte d'Ivoire—experiencing extremist attacks, makes Ghana's security partnership valuable for India's broader African security engagement. Ghana's comprehensive National Counterterrorism Framework and its leadership role in the Accra Initiative for regional security cooperation position it as a strategic partner for India's security interests in West partnership and technical cooperationIndia's development partnership with Ghana reflects its commitment to South-South cooperation. Through concessional Lines of Credit and grants totaling approximately $450 million, India has supported various development projects in Ghana, demonstrating its role as a reliable development partner. This assistance spans infrastructure development, capacity building, and technical cooperation across multiple upcoming visit's focus on vaccine development and creating a vaccine hub in Ghana for West Africa represents a new dimension of cooperation. This aligns with India's pharmaceutical strengths and its vision of becoming a global hub for affordable healthcare solutions. Such partnerships enhance India's soft power and demonstrate its commitment to addressing Africa's developmental infrastructure and technology cooperationGhana's interest in digital public infrastructure highlights the potential for future technology cooperation. India's success in digital transformation, exemplified by initiatives like Aadhaar and UPI, offers valuable lessons and solutions for Ghana's digitisation efforts. This cooperation can extend to areas such as e-governance, financial inclusion, and digital identity systems, areas where India has demonstrated global connections and people-to-people tiesThe presence of over 15,000 Indians in Ghana, many of whom have been in the country for over 70 years with some families now in their fourth generation, creates strong people-to-people connections. This established Indian community serves as a bridge between the two countries, facilitating business relationships, cultural exchanges, and deeper understanding between the peoples of both Prime Minister Modi embarks on this historic visit, the partnership between India and Ghana is poised to enter a new phase characterised by deeper economic integration, enhanced security cooperation, and expanded technological collaboration. For India, Ghana represents not just a bilateral partner but a strategic gateway to West Africa and a crucial ally in building a multipolar world order that reflects the aspirations of the Global South. Ghana's significance for India, therefore, lies in its potential to be a cornerstone of India's African engagement and a testament to the enduring power of South-South cooperation. - Ends
