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COVER STORY JANUARY 10, 2025 | The Indian Eye 5

aiming to clinch a broader trade and wide-ranging discussions on the prog-
investment deal once president-elect ress of the India-US strategic partner-
Donald Trump takes office. ship and exchanged views on current
To address Trump’s concerns over regional and global developments.
the trade imbalance, officials have But most importantly, S Jaishan-
also proposed buying more LNG and kar held a meeting with the next US
defense equipment from the U.S., the National Security Advisor, Michael
second official said. Waltz last Friday during his visit to the
India’s energy imports from the United States. The two leaders held
U.S., including crude oil, refined fuel discussion on bilateral partnership
and coal, were estimated at $12 billion and current global issues, and Jaishan-
in fiscal 2024, and aircraft and parts kar said that he is looking forward to
at $2 billion. Such imports could rise working with Waltz.
by $5 billion to $10 billion annually, a “Delighted to meet Rep. @mi-
third government source, said. chaelgwaltz this evening. Enjoyed a
Commerce ministry officials have wide-ranging conversation on our bi-
previously said they would wait for the lateral partnership as well as current
Trump administration to take office be- global issues. Look forward to work-
fore any offer of trade talks, while work- ing with him,” Jaishankar said in a
ing out plans for possible negotiations. In his first term as president, Trump got along very well with the Modi government (File photo) post on X.
Indian officials are also sensing Michael Waltz would succeed
an opportunity in Trump’s plans to Jake Sullivan as the US National Se-
impose up to 60% tariffs on Chinese curity Advisor after Donald Trump as-
imports, by pitching India as an alter- sumes office as 47th US President in
native manufacturing base. January. Earlier in November, Trump
The government has held consul- picked Florida Republican leader as
tations on the issue within ministries, his National Security Advisor.
as well as with local think-tanks and Waltz also served as a senior
industrial groups, said a government member of the House Armed Ser-
source who attended some of the vices Committee, the House Foreign
meetings. Affairs Committee, and the House
India is already preparing for Permanent Select Committee on In-
Trump 2.0. telligence. Mike Waltz served 27 years
In this regard, External Affairs in the US Army and National Guard.
Minister S Jaishankar held a meet- Even as the Indian government
ing with his US counterpart Antony works with diplomatic channels in
Blinken in Washington, DC. The two Washington DC, it is also conducting a
leaders reviewed the advancement of sector-wise analysis of a possible hike
India-US partnership over the past in US tariffs. Various ministries and
four years and agreed that coopera- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets the incoming US NSA Michael Waltz, government departments are examin-
tion has strengthened in many sectors. in Washington DC (ANI) ing trade scenarios, considering such a
During his visit, he met India’s move by the US and possible remedies.
Ambassador to US, Vinay Kwatra discussed opportunities for deepen- met with the United States Nation- With Trump all set to move into
and Consul Generals based in New ing India-US partnership, focusing on al Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, in the White House on January 20, a new
York, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, technology, trade and investments. Washington, DC, on Thursday. Jais- phase – probably a good opportunity –
Houston and Atlanta. The officials Earlier, EAM S Jaishankar hankar said that the two leaders held in Indo-US relations is set to begin.

New Delhi hits back at baseless allegations by ‘Post’

he Ministry of External Affairs has strongly Maldivian Democratic Party and the country’s Minister S Jaishankar, where the two leaders
refuted the media reports claiming India’s largest opposition party, Mohamed Nasheed, dis- noted key developments such as the signing of
T‘interference’ in the domestic politics of missed the Washington Post report. Nasheed said a framework to facilitate local currency use for
Maldives, stating that the articles have “no cred- he was unaware of any “serious plot” against Pres- cross-border transactions and increased collabo-
ibility” and the reporter and newspaper have a ident Muizzu and added that India would never ration across various sectors.
“compulsive hostility” towards India. support such a move. In October 2024, Maldives President Mo-
This comes after a Washington Post news “I read with interest today’s Washington Post hammed Muizzu came on a visit to India.
report alleged that Maldives opposition sought article. I was unaware of any serious plot against He held extensive bilateral talks with Prime
USD 6 million from India to aid in a plot to im- the President, though some people always live in Minister Narendra Modi, aiming to forge a
peach Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu. conspiracy. India would never back such a move, comprehensive economic and maritime security
“Both the newspaper and the reporter in ques- as they always support Maldives’ democracy. India partnership. Both leaders had acknowledged the
tion appear to nurse a compulsive hostility towards has never dictated terms to us, either,” Mohamed shared challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.
India. You can see a pattern in their activities. I Nasheed wrote on X. They committed to enhancing maritime and
leave you to judge their credibility. As far as we are Meanwhile, Maldives Foreign Minister Abdul- security cooperation, with India pledging to pro-
concerned they have none,” MEA Spokesperson la Khaleel is on a three-day official visit to India. vide expertise, boost capabilities, and engage in
Randhir Jaiswal said in the weekly briefing today. This is his first official visit to India. joint measures to help the Maldives address both
Earlier, former president and chief of the He also held a meeting with External Affairs traditional and non-traditional maritime threats.

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