PM Modi reciprocates Trump’s sentiments, says India-US have a positive and forward-looking partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, September 6, reciprocated US President Donald Trump’s statement on India and the having a “special relationship”.”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,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

This is the PM’s first direct overture amid the India-US standoff over tariffs.

External Affairs minister S Jaishankar later told news agency ANI that PM Modi attaches enormous importance to India’s partnership with US. And with regards to Trump, Jaishankar said the PM has always had a very good personal equation with him. “But the point is that we remain engaged with the US, and at this time, I can’t say more than that. But that’s really what I would say,” he added.Earlier, sources had also told CNBC-TV18 that PM Modi is unlikely to participate in the UNGA meeting this month. Sources said he is unlikely to travel to the US for the UNGA General Debate in New York.

On Friday, September 5 (local time) Trump said PM Modi is a “great Prime Minister” and he will always be friends with him. “I just don’t like what he is doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a special relationship. There is nothing to worry about,” the US President told reporters.

Trump’s comments come after he said the US has “lost” both India and Russia to China. “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account while posting a photograph PM Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping from the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

Just a few days prior, Trump said he got along well with India, though the relationship was ‘one-sided.’

The Trump administration imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods from August 27, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it has “no comments to offer on the post made” by the US president.

Trump advisor Peter Navarro had even gone to the extent of calling the Russia-Ukraine conflict, “Modi’s war,” among a string of similar comments. Questioned about this, the MEA spokesperson said India “obviously rejects” the “inaccurate and misleading statements.”

Also Read: Trump modifies executive order, exempts certain goods from reciprocal tariffs: White House