Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed appreciation for U.S. President Donald Trump's recent comments affirming the strength of bilateral ties between the two nations. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi stated, "Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump's sentiments and positive assessment of our ties. India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership."
Modi's response came shortly after Trump addressed reporters at the White House, where he emphasised his personal rapport with the Indian leader. "I will always be friends with Modi; he is a great Prime Minister," Trump said. He further described the India-U.S. relationship as "special," adding, "There is nothing to worry about." When questioned about his earlier social media post suggesting the U.S. had "lost" India, Trump replied, "I don't think we have." He also referenced a recent meeting with Modi, noting, "I get along very well with Modi as you know; he was here a couple of months ago, we went to the Rose Garden."
The exchange takes place against a backdrop of heightened economic tension and geopolitical shifts. Just days earlier, Trump had escalated trade measures by imposing a 50% tariff on a significant portion of Indian exports to the U.S., citing India's continued purchases of Russian oil amid global sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict. This move, which affects over half of India's shipments to America, was described by Trump as a response to what he views as unfair trade practices and energy dependencies. "I've been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia, and I've let them know – with the 50% tariff," Trump remarked in his White House comments.
The tariff hike preceded the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit earlier this week, where Modi joined Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in discussions that highlighted cooperation among member states. The event drew criticism from Trump, who posted on his Truth Social platform that the U.S. appeared to have "lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China."
