In a press briefing held on Monday, June 30, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised India’s growing role as a strategic ally in the Indo-Pacific region. Responding to a question from news agency ANI, Leavitt underscored the strength of the U.S.-India partnership and emphasized the personal rapport between U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“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,” Leavitt said, while addressing concerns about China’s expanding influence in the region.
In response to another ANI question regarding the prospects of a trade agreement between the two nations, Leavitt confirmed that a deal is in the final stages of negotiation. “Yes, the President said that last week [that the U.S. and India are very close to a trade deal], and it remains true. 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,” she said.
These remarks follow President Trump’s recent comments expressing cautious optimism about a breakthrough in U.S.-India trade relations. Speaking about reciprocal tariffs, he stated, “India, I think we are going to reach a deal where we have the right to go and do trade. Right now, it’s restricted. You can’t walk in there, you can’t even think about it. We are looking to get a full trade barrier dropping, which is unthinkable and I am not sure that that is going to happen. But as of this moment, we agree that going to India and trade…”
With less than two weeks remaining before the critical July 9 deadline, both nations are working intensively to finalize a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) during the ongoing 90-day pause on tariff escalations.
Meanwhile, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is in the United States for the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. On Monday, he also inaugurated a UN exhibition titled “The Human Cost of Terrorism,” which highlights the global threat of state-sponsored terrorism.
The QUAD, comprising the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia, is a diplomatic coalition committed to ensuring a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific. Its origins date back to the collaborative humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
