India Firmly Rejects Bloomberg Report on Ajit Doval’s Alleged U.S. Visit
India on Thursday categorically dismissed a media report by Bloomberg that claimed National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had made a secret visit to the United States and met senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to mend strains in bilateral ties. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said there is “absolutely no basis” to the story and that no such visit or meeting ever took place.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at the weekly press briefing in New Delhi that international media reports were unfounded and did not reflect any real diplomatic engagement. “Regarding the report by Bloomberg, I would like to say that there is absolutely no basis for that report. No such meeting or no such visit has taken place,” he emphasised.
The now-rejected report had suggested that in September last year Doval met with Rubio in Washington to ease tensions between the two countries and restart trade negotiations. It also alleged that the Indian NSA stressed India’s readiness to wait out the term of then-U.S. President Donald Trump if required. The government’s rebuttal clearly shows that the claims lack factual basis.
This clarification also comes amid renewed focus on the India-U.S. trade relationship after both nations recently announced an agreement to reduce tariffs and strengthen economic ties. While the Bloomberg account sparked discussions about potential behind-the-scenes diplomacy, New Delhi’s firm denial underscores its intent to prevent misinformation around high-level engagements.
