‘You buy Russian arms… stay in Brics bloc’: US Secy looks rattled by India’s defence, diplomatic policies | Watch

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has outlined India’s activities gets “under the skin” of the United States.

Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington DC, Lutnick flagged India’s purchase of military gear from Russia and membership of Brics.

Lutnick said, “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.”

As for the Brics, Lutnick said that the bloc’s purported “move to not support the dollar and dollar hegemony” is “not really the way to make friends and influence people in America”.

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#WATCH | Washington DC | US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick says, "...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… pic.twitter.com/CxoqRZQLJ2

— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2025

For a long time, US President Donald Trump and his aides have criticised India for buying military equipment from other countries. They have also criticised Brics, which they accuse of trying to de-dollarise the world economy. India has repeatedly rejected the charge that Brics is working towards either de-dollarisation or floating any Brics-specific currency.

“I don’t think there’s any policy on our part to replace the dollar. As I said, at the end of the day, the dollar as the reserve currency is the source of international economic stability. And right now, what we want in the world is more economic stability, not less,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in March.

In his remarks, Lutnick went on to say that the Trump administration and India are working to address the twin issues he flagged.

“The President calls that out directly and specifically, and the Indian government is addressing it specifically. And that’s how you move on to a really positive place. Put it on the table, address it straight on, resolve it straight on and get to a really good place. And I think that’s where we are,” said Lutnick.

As for ongoing trade talks between the two countries, Lutnick said that the trade deal could be finalised in the “not-too-distant future”.