'India won't be bullied': Months before trade deal, Doval told Rubio country wouldn’t bend to Trump's pressure

In a behind-the-scenes diplomatic push months before Washington and New Delhi announced a new trade agreement, India’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, made it clear that India would not be rushed or pressured into a deal with the United States, even if that meant waiting out President Donald Trump’s term in office, as per an exclusive Bloomberg report.

Doval met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington in early September 2025 with a blunt message about India’s stance on the simmering trade dispute. “India wouldn’t be bullied by US President Donald Trump and his top aides,” Doval told Rubio, the officials told Bloomberg.

The reported conversation came at a tense moment in bilateral ties, after the Trump administration had slapped punitive tariffs—as high as 50%—on Indian goods. The steep duties, imposed amid criticism from Trump and members of his team about India’s trade policies and energy purchases, had prompted concern in New Delhi about the direction of relations.

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A willingness to wait

Doval made clear that India was prepared to let negotiations unfold at its own pace, even if that meant waiting until Trump’s term ended, rather than accept conditions it viewed as unfavourable. India has dealt with past administrations it considered unfriendly and believes it has the diplomatic strength to withstand pressure.

Officials said Doval also urged Washington to dial down its public criticism of India, saying a less confrontational tone would help rebuild trust and get talks back on track.

The tone between the two countries did ease somewhat after that meeting. Later in September, Trump personally called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to wish him a happy birthday—a gesture perceived as a diplomatic reset—and by the end of 2025 the leaders had spoken several times on the phone as negotiations progressed.

In early February 2026, Trump announced a trade deal that reduces tariffs on Indian exports and expands market access for US goods, portraying it as a major achievement. New Delhi confirmed the reduction on tariffs, but has been less detailed publicly about other terms of the agreement.