'No such meeting took place': MEA dismisses report claiming NSA Doval met US Secretary Rubio

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal - File Photo

India has denied reports of a meeting between NSA Ajit Doval and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling them baseless. The MEA clarified no such interaction occurred, amid recent developments in India-US trade and energy relations following a new agreement.

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India on Thursday firmly rejected reports claiming a meeting took place last year between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with the Ministry of External Affairs making it clear that no such interaction ever occurred.

Responding to a media query in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the report published by Bloomberg.

“I would like to say that there is absolutely no basis for this report. No such meeting or no such visit has taken place,” Jaiswal said, categorically denying claims that Doval met Rubio in September last year.

VIDEO | Delhi: “There is absolutely no basis of that report. No such meeting or visit took place”, says MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia), responding to a media query regarding reports of a meeting between NSA Ajit Doval and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, last… pic.twitter.com/ClPzu1WLUT

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 5, 2026

The Bloomberg report had alleged that during the purported meeting, Doval told Rubio that India would not be pressured by US President Donald Trump and was prepared to wait out his tenure if required. India’s clear rebuttal underscored New Delhi’s position that the report was inaccurate and unfounded.

The clarification comes at a time when India-US ties have seen renewed momentum following the announcement of a trade agreement between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under the agreement announced by Trump days before the Bloomberg report was published, US tariffs on Indian goods were reduced to 18 per cent, and a punitive 25 per cent duty imposed on India over its purchase of Russian oil was withdrawn.

Trump also claimed in his announcement that New Delhi had agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil and start buying Venezuelan crude.

Responding to a query on this, Jaiswal said, "Insofar as India’s energy security or energy sourcing is concerned, the government has stated publicly on several occasions, including by me here, that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians is its supreme priority. Diversifying energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy. All of India’s decisions are taken and will continue to be taken with this objective in mind."

"As far as Venezuela is concerned, it has been a long-standing partner for us in the area of energy, both on the trade side and as also on the investment side. We were importing energy or crude oil from Venezuela till 2019-20 and thereafter, we had to stop. Again, we started buying oil from Venezuela in 2023-2024, but had to stop which were halted because of reimposition of sanctions. As you are aware that Indian PSUs, they have established partnership with the National Oil Company of Venezuela, PDVSA, and our PSUs have maintained presence in the country since 2008. Consistent with our approach to energy security, India remains open to exploring the commercial merits of any crude supply options," he added.

Trump also claimed that India had agreed to large scale purchases of American goods and to lower tariffs on US imports. However, neither New Delhi nor Washington has released formal documentation outlining the details of the agreement.

India-US relations had faced strain earlier in the year after Trump publicly claimed credit for resolving a brief military clash between India and Pakistan, an assertion that was rejected by the Indian Army and Prime Minister Modi. Modi later declined an invitation to visit the White House when the US President hosted Pakistani leaders.

Diplomatic engagement picked up pace with the arrival of new US Ambassador Sergio Gor in New Delhi in December. Gor, a close associate of both Trump and Rubio, has repeatedly highlighted the strategic importance of India-US ties.