Trump Reaffirms Strong Ties with India, Calls PM Modi on Birthday Amid Positive Trade Talks:

Washington/New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his close relationship with India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even as he addressed concerns about Europe’s continued oil purchases from Russia. During a press briefing following his bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump highlighted his administration’s tough stance on oil trade with Russia and used India as an example of strong bilateral ties, despite past trade disagreements. The US President revealed that he recently spoke with Prime Minister Modi over the phone to extend birthday wishes, calling it a "wonderful phone call." The conversation reportedly took place just hours after trade talks between India and the US resumed following a prolonged pause. “I’m very close to India. I’m very close to Prime Minister Modi,” Trump told reporters on Thursday. “I spoke to him the other day to wish him a Happy Birthday. We have a very good relationship and he put out a beautiful statement too.” President Trump’s comments come at a time when the India-US partnership appears to be regaining momentum. Despite earlier trade tensions — particularly Trump’s move to impose steep tariffs on Indian goods, in some cases as high as 50% — the tone has shifted in recent weeks. Trade talks between the two countries resumed earlier this month, with Indian officials describing the discussions as “positive and forward-looking.” Modi also acknowledged the call from Trump and expressed appreciation for the gesture. He reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening the “India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” particularly in light of renewed economic discussions. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said: “Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine!” The camaraderie between the two leaders comes amid heightened global tensions over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Trump took a hard stance on the matter, criticizing European nations for continuing to buy oil from Russia. He stressed that his administration imposed sanctions and was charging China “very large tariffs” to pressure foreign governments to limit their support for Moscow. "Very simply, if the price of oil comes down, Putin is going to drop out [of the war]. He’s going to have no choice," Trump said, signaling a clear link between global energy markets and geopolitical strategy. While the Biden administration had taken a different approach to diplomacy in the region, Trump’s recent statements signal a renewed interest in shaping US foreign policy through personal diplomacy and strategic economic pressure. His outreach to Modi, and the resumption of trade negotiations, reflect his broader agenda of rebuilding strong bilateral alliances heading into a potential 2024 comeback. As India continues to rise on the global stage and remains a key US ally in the Indo-Pacific region, the evolving relationship between Trump and Modi — marked by warmth and pragmatism — could play a pivotal role in shaping the next chapter of India-US relations.

NEWS