Will India snub Operation Sindoor star weapon S-400 to woo Trump? US Secretary Howard Lutnick says why India-Russia ties is a problem

United States's Secretary for Commerce, Howard Lutnick, on Monday said a trade deal between India and the United States could happen in the near future. The development comes after the recent visit of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to the US. However, the US secretary expressed concern over India-Russia ties.

 

Addressing the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington on  Monday, Lutnick said, "You should expect a deal between the United States and India in the not-too-distant future because I think we found a place that really works for both countries," PTI reported. He added, "When they put the right person in India, put the right person on the other side of the table, and we've managed (that), I think."

 

 

However, Lutnick expressed concern about India's ties with Russia. "There were certain things that the Indian government did that generally rubbed the United States the wrong way. For instance, you generally buy your military gear from Russia. That's a way to kind of get under the skin of America if you're going to buy your armaments from Russia. I think India starting to move towards buying military equipment from the United States, which then goes a long way," ANI reported quoting Lutnick.

 

The US commerce secretary also questioned the move by BRICS countries to replace US dollars with their own currencies for international transactions. 

"That's not really the way to make friends and influence people in America. The president (Donald Trump) calls that out directly and specifically, and the Indian government is addressing it specifically," Lutnick added.

 

Lutnick's comments come after Goyal on Monday said India and the US are working to give preferential market access to each other's businesses in respective countries. "Both countries are committed to work together, both countries desire to give preferential access to each other's businesses and we are working towards the bilateral trade agreement," Goyal told reporters in Paris on Monday.

India