United States President Donald Trump on Thursday heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as “a great man” and “a friend.”
The US President also suggested that he might travel to India next year as part of efforts to bolster trade relations between the two nations.
Speaking to reporters at the White House after unveiling a new plan to cut prices of weight loss drugs, Trump said discussions with PM Modi were progressing well.
“He (PM Modi) largely stopped buying from Russia. He is a friend of mine, and we speak, and he wants me to go there. We will figure that out; I will go… Prime Minister Modi is a great man, and I will be going,” Trump said.
When pressed on whether a visit to India was on his schedule, Trump replied, “It could be, yes.”
Tensions and Trade Talks
Trump’s remarks come just months after The New York Times reported that he had dropped plans to attend the Quad Summit in India later this year, following Washington’s decision to impose steep tariffs.
The August report, titled “The Nobel Prize and a Testy Phone Call: How the Trump-Modi Relationship Unravelled,” claimed that despite earlier assurances to Modi, the visit was no longer on the cards.
The latest comments arrive at a delicate moment in US-India relations, marked by disagreements over tariffs, visa fees, and energy purchases from Russia.
India currently faces US tariffs of up to 50 per cent on exports, while the proposed USD 100,000 H1B visa fee has raised alarm in the Indian tech sector.
Trump has also frequently taken credit for facilitating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, while criticising India’s continued imports of Russian crude.
Diplomatic Engagements Continue
Despite these challenges, diplomatic engagement between the two countries remains active.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, asked about the ongoing trade negotiations, told ANI on Wednesday, “Talks are going on very well. There are many sensitive and serious issues, so naturally, it takes some time.”
In Washington, India’s Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra met US Senator Steve Daines to discuss trade, the recently signed 10-year defence framework agreement, and new opportunities in technology and innovation.
In a post on X, Kwatra thanked Senator Daines, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for his support in strengthening bilateral ties, calling the interaction an “enriching conversation.”
