MEA Maintains Silence on Trump's Potential India Visit
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Friday that it has no information to share regarding US President Donald Trump's possible visit to India, despite the American leader's recent comments suggesting he might travel next year.
During the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded to questions about whether the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) summit would proceed without Trump or be rescheduled for next year coinciding with the US President's visit.
"As far as the comments of President Trump regarding his visit to India are concerned, I do not have anything on this to share. I will let you know when I have something to share about it," Jaiswal told reporters.
Quad Remains Vital Indo-Pacific Platform
While avoiding direct comment on Trump's travel plans, the MEA spokesperson emphasized that the Quad continues to be a "valuable platform" for cooperation among its four member nations - the United States, Australia, Japan, and India.
Jaiswal highlighted recent Quad engagements, specifically mentioning the Quad Ports of the Future Conference held during India Maritime Week in Mumbai from October 29 to 30.
"We see Quad as a valuable platform for discussion among the four Quad partners on issues of importance and of interest to them in the Indo-Pacific region. Quad is making steady progress," he stated.
The spokesperson revealed that the Mumbai conference attracted participation from 24 countries, including all four Quad partner nations, demonstrating the grouping's expanding influence and collaborative spirit.
Trump's Earlier Comments Fuel Speculation
The MEA's clarification comes just a day after President Trump hinted at a potential visit to India during remarks at the White House on Thursday. While announcing a new deal to lower weight loss drug prices, Trump praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as "a great man" and "a friend."
"He (PM Modi) largely stopped buying from Russia. And he is a friend of mine, and we speak. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a great man. He is a friend of mine, and we speak, and he wants me to go there. We will figure that out; I will go... Prime Minister Modi is a great man and I will be going," Trump told reporters.
When directly questioned if he planned to travel to India next year, the US President responded, "It could be, yes."
This development follows a New York Times report from August that suggested Trump no longer intended to visit India for the upcoming Quad Summit. The report, citing sources familiar with the President's schedule, indicated that although Trump had earlier assured Prime Minister Modi of his attendance at the fall summit, those plans had been dropped.
New Delhi was scheduled to host the Quad summit in 2025, making the timing of Trump's potential visit particularly significant for regional diplomacy and US-India relations.
