New Delhi, September 6 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he valued the “positive” assessment of India-US relations expressed by US President Donald Trump. His comments came after Trump described the ties between the two countries as “special,” in what was seen as an attempt to ease recent strains in the relationship.
Speaking at the White House earlier, Trump said he would always remain a “friend of Modi,” though he added that he did not like certain actions being taken by the Indian Prime Minister without elaborating further. Modi responded by stating that he welcomed Trump’s sentiments and fully supported his positive outlook on bilateral ties. He underlined that India and the United States share a highly positive, forward-looking, and comprehensive global strategic partnership.
This was the first time since their June 17 phone conversation that the two leaders publicly commented on each other. As per agency report, tensions escalated after Trump imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, including a 25 percent levy linked to India’s purchase of crude oil from Russia. India had described the US action as “unreasonable and ill-considered.”
When asked about the possibility of resetting relations with India, Trump reiterated that there was “nothing to worry about,” calling the bilateral relationship special. He remarked that Modi was a great Prime Minister and a close friend, while also expressing disappointment over India’s large-scale oil purchases from Russia.
Trump said the US had imposed a very high 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, underscoring his frustration, but also stressed his personal rapport with Modi, recalling the Indian leader’s recent visit to Washington. Despite ongoing trade frictions, both leaders’ statements signaled a willingness to preserve and strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.
