NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sought to strike a conciliatory note with U.S. President Donald Trump, responding warmly after Trump described his friendship with the Indian leader as enduring despite rising trade frictions.
Taking to X, Modi wrote: “Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of our ties. India and the US share a forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership.”
Trump, addressing reporters in Washington, had earlier said: “I’ll always be friends with [Modi], he’s a great Prime Minister. There’s nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion.” The comment came only days after he warned that the U.S. risked “losing India and Russia to China,” underscoring the tense backdrop of the latest exchange.
The cordial public remarks stand in sharp contrast to the bruising trade row triggered by Trump’s steep tariffs on Indian goods. The U.S. first imposed a 25% levy, later raised to 50%, in retaliation for India’s continued imports of discounted Russian crude. The hike, among the most severe Washington has applied, has been condemned by New Delhi as “unjust and unreasonable.”
Indian officials argue that the country’s energy purchases reflect strategic autonomy and national interest, pointing out that many Western nations have also maintained trade ties with Moscow.
Analysts say the exchange highlights the complex nature of India–U.S. relations under Trump’s second presidency: warm personal diplomacy coupled with hard-nosed policy clashes. Modi’s public embrace of Trump’s comments, they note, was aimed at defusing tensions and projecting stability in a partnership that spans defense, technology, and regional security.
Despite the rhetoric of friendship, the tariff dispute remains unresolved and continues to test the resilience of the relationship. With Brent crude hovering near multi-month lows and global markets unsettled, both sides face growing pressure to recalibrate their economic engagement while keeping strategic ties on track.