Indicating the softening in bilateral relations between India and the US, President Donald Trump said that he was confident that there would be no difficulty in reaching a successful conclusion of the trade talks between the two countries. He said that he is eager to talk to his very good friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming weeks.
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, the US President said that he is “happy to announce that India and the United States continue to negotiate to remove trade obstacles between the two countries.”
He said, “I am eager to talk to my very good friends, Prime Minister Modi in the coming weeks. I am confident that there will be no difficulty for both our great countries to reach a successful conclusion!”
Reacting to this post, Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday expressed confidence in a post on X that the ongoing talks would pave the way to highlight the immense possibilities of partnership between them.
Modi said that India and America are close friends and natural partners. He said that the two countries are working to complete the trade talks as soon as possible.
He said, “I am also eager to talk to President Trump. We will work together to ensure a bright and prosperous future for the people of both countries.”
Trump shared this post of the Prime Minister on his social media platform.
Trump’s latest comment indicates significant improvement in bilateral relations, as the relationship between the two countries is probably going through the worst round in more than two decades amid tariffs and tension over India’s purchase of Russian oil.
Trump has doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent, including 25 percent additional fees on the purchase of Russian crude oil by India.
India described American action as “inappropriate, inappropriate and indispensable”.
After several months of critical rhetoric against India, Trump said last week that there are “special relations” between India and the US and there is nothing to worry, because “sometimes a few moments come between the two countries.”
Trump said at the Oval Office on Friday, “I will always do the same. I will always be a friend of Modi, he is a great Prime Minister. He is great. I will always be his friend, but I do not like what he is doing at this time.”
Trump smiled and said, “But there is special relations between India and America. There is nothing to worry about. Just sometimes we have some special moments.”
Reacting to the comments, Modi on Saturday said that he appreciates Trump’s positive evaluation about Indo-US relations.
Modi said, “I highly appreciate and fully support the positive evaluation of the feelings of President Trump and our relations. There is a very positive and visionary wide and global strategic partnership between India and America.”
Trump also said that he is “very disappointed” that India is buying so much oil from Russia.
He said, “I am very disappointed that India will buy so much oil from Russia, and I have told them. We have imposed a huge tariff on India, 50 percent tariff, very high tariff. I am very good with Modi, he is very good. He came here a few months ago.”
He said in response to a question on social media that America has lost India and Russia to China. While defending the purchase of crude oil from Russia, India has been saying that its energy purchase is inspired by national interest and market dynamics.
After the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India started buying Russian oil sold at a discount after the ban on Moscow by Western countries and closing its supply.
In Truth Social Post, Trump had said, “It seems that we have lost India and Russia the deepest and dark at the hands of China. God should do their future long and prosperous!” Trump also posted an old picture with Prime Minister Modi’s Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
This post came at a time when the warmth between Modi, Xi and Putin attracted global attention at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Sangathan (SCO) in the Chinese city of Tianjin a few days ago.
