Share very good relationship with Modi, very close to him: Trump as India, US move to ease strained ties
US President Donald Trump also mentioned his recent birthday wish for Prime Minister Modi and said the latter also issued a "beautiful statement". Trump's remarks come amid a thaw in the frosty ties between the two countries.
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his personal bond with India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing the relationship between the two countries as "very good". Trump said that he was very close to India and Prime Minister Modi while simultaneously saying that he had imposed "sanctions" on New Delhi to help end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump's remarks come amid signs of a possible thaw in the frosty ties between the two countries. Relations between India and the US hit its low after Trump in August imposed 50 per cent tariff on New Delhi, including a "penalty" for its continued purchase of Russian oil.
'Very close to India, Modi'
Addressing a press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, the US President said, "As you know, I am very close to India, I am very close to the Prime Minister of India."
Trump also mentioned his recent birthday wish for Prime Minister Modi and said the latter also issued a "beautiful statement". "I spoke to him the other day, I wished him a happy birthday. We have a very good relationship. He put out a beautiful statement, too... But I sanctioned them," he said.
Trump, Modi's bonhomie on display amid strained ties
Last week, Trump softened his stance on India after he announced that New Delhi and Washington were going to resume trade negotiations that hit a roadblock over access to India's agriculture and dairy market. The two sides on Tuesday held talks on a bilateral trade agreement and they described them as positive.
The US President also spoke to PM Modi on phone and extended greetings to him on his 75th birthday and said he was doing a "tremendous job". He thanked the Prime Minister for his efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, contradicting the stand taken by some US officials that India was helping fund the conflict by buying oil from Moscow. "Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine!" he wrote on Truth Social.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Trump for his birthday greetings and pledged to further strengthen the India-US partnership. "Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict," he said on X.