US President Donald Trump on Thursday underlined his personal rapport with India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recalling his recent birthday greetings and expressing optimism over Indo-US relations. Speaking at a press conference alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump highlighted their “very good relationship” and his appreciation for India’s role in global affairs.
“I’m very close to India. I’m very close to the Prime Minister of India. Spoke to him the other day, wished him a happy birthday. We have a very good relationship. He put out a beautiful statement, too...But I said, I sanctioned them,” Trump said.
The US President extended 75th birthday wishes to PM Modi via phone, thanking him for supporting efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump praised Modi, stating, “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! President DJT.”
Responding on X, PM Modi reciprocated warmly, calling Trump “my friend” and reiterating India’s commitment to strengthening the Comprehensive and Global Partnership. “Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday. 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.
Also read: PM receives Trump’s birthday call, backs his Ukraine peace push
The exchanges coincided with a visit by US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch to Delhi, where he held discussions with Ministry of Commerce officials on progressing the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement. Efforts to conclude a mutually beneficial trade deal are reportedly being intensified.
Trump also voiced concerns over India’s purchase of Russian oil, noting it as a factor in the imposition of a 50% tariff on certain Indian imports, including a 25% tariff on oil. He added, “China is paying a very large tariff right now to the United States. But I’m willing to do other things, but not when the people that I’m fighting for are buying oil from Russia. If the oil price comes down, very simply, Russia will settle. And the oil price is way down. We got it way down. We’re drilling and we produce more oil than anybody else in the world. We’re doing a lot...”a
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