PM Modi thanks Trump for Diwali wishes; trade, oil, Ukraine war discussed, says US president

The Prime Minister’s post came hours after Trump addressed Indian-Americans at the White House and celebrated Diwali at the Oval Office.

Also Read | Trump says he spoke with PM Modi on trade amid Diwali celebrations at White House

“I just spoke to your Prime Minister today. We had a great conversation. We talked about trade. We talked about a lot of things, but mostly the world of trade. He is very interested in that,” Trump said.

“We just have a very good relationship, and he is not going to buy much oil from Russia. He wants to see that war end as much as with Russia and Ukraine. And as you know, they are not going to be buying too much oil. So, they have got it way back, and they are continuing to cut it way back,” he added.

The Trump-Modi call came on a day when the White House celebrated Diwali with prominent Indian-Americans, and the event was attended by the Indian ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, FBI chief Kash Patel, intelligence head Tulsi Gabbard, new US ambassador to India Sergio Gor, and Indian-American business leaders.

Trump praised PM Modi as a “great friend” with whom he claimed to have had a phone call on Tuesday. India and the US are working on “some great deals”, he said, highlighting the ties in trade and regional peace between the two countries.

Saying that he and PM Modi talked about trade, Trump said, “He is very interested in that. Although we did talk a little while ago about ‘let’s have no wars with Pakistan’. The fact that trade was involved, I was able to talk about that. And we have no war with Pakistan and India. That was a very, very good thing.”

“He is a great person, and he has become a great friend of mine over the years,” the US President added.

Highlighting the symbolic importance of the festival, President Trump said, “In a few moments, we will light the diya as a symbol of faith in the victory of light over darkness… It is knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. During Diwali, the revellers recall ancient stories of enemies defeated, obstacles removed, and captives freed.”

Modi and Trump had last spoken on September 16, ahead of the PM’s 75th birthday, and then again on October 9.

The two leaders are likely to attend the ASEAN and East Asia leaders’ summit in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28, and there is a possibility of a meeting between the duo on the sidelines of the summit.