‘Very good friend Modi’: Trump signals thaw in ties, says trade talks with India ‘on track’

Trump also indicated that he is looking forward to speaking with his “very good friend” Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming weeks — raising hopes of a possible visit to the US or a call to the President. The visit was being planned around the UN General Assembly where he could address on September 26, but now the External Affairs minister S Jaishankar has been designated to address the UNGA on September 27.

Modi responded that the trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the “limitless potential” of the India-US partnership.

In the Truth Social post, Trump said, “I am pleased to announce that India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations. I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks. I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!”

Modi responded on X, “India and the US are close friends and natural partners. I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership. Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest. I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump. We will work together to secure a brighter, more prosperous future for both our people.” He tagged @realDonaldTrump and @POTUS.

Since the India-US bilateral chill set in on August 6, when US President Trump announced an additional 25% tariff as a penalty for India’s purchase of Russian oil, the first tentative sign of a possible thaw came on September 6 – exactly a month to date.

In a turn that has, of late, come to characterise the policy see-saw in the White House, Trump said Friday in the Oval Office that India and the US have a “special relationship” and “there is nothing to worry about.”

Hours later on Saturday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he “deeply” appreciated and “fully” reciprocated “President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of bilateral ties.”

Modi’s statement Friday was his first direct response on the issue since Trump announced his global tariff regime and 25 per cent on Indian goods in April and added an extra 25 per cent last month over India purchasing Russian oil.

“I’ll always be friends with (Narendra) Modi, he’s a great prime minister,” Trump said. “He’s great. I’ll always be friends, but I just don’t like what he’s doing at this particular moment,” Trump said. “But India and the United States have a special relationship. There’s nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion,” he added with a smile.

PM Modi posted on X Saturday, “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.”

Over the weekend, on September 6, PM Modi’s post had marked the first political effort at the highest level in New Delhi to try and reverse the downward spiral into which the India-US relationship has fallen since Trump slapped the 25% Russian penalty tariff a month ago on top of the 25% reciprocal tariff.

Of course, all fingers remain crossed given the flip-flops and the very public outbursts that have come to mark the Trump White House. But the latest Trump-Modi exchange had brought some relief to an establishment that was trying to work out a strategy to break the ice.

That’s why Trump’s remarks were seen as off-ramp and Delhi, waiting for an opportunity where Trump would dial back a little bit, took the opportunity. Using his own handle on X and tagging both Trump and POTUS, Modi had thrown his weight behind this move.

Later in the day, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had reposted the PM’s post and speaking to ANI, said: “Prime Minister Modi obviously attaches enormous importance to our partnership with the United States. President Trump is concerned, he (PM Modi) has always had a very good personal equation with President Trump. But the point is that we are, we remain, engaged with the United States, and at this time, I can’t say more than that. But that’s really what I would say.”

At the White House, at the same time, Trump had also said that he is “very disappointed” that India would be buying “so much” oil from Russia.

“I’ve been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia, and I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India, 50 per cent tariff, very high tariff. I get along very well with (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, he’s great. He was here a couple of months ago,” Trump had said in response to a question on his social media post that the US has lost India and Russia to China.

To a question on how trade talks are going with India and other countries, Trump had said, “They are going great. Other countries are doing great. We’re doing great with all of them. We’re upset with the European Union because of what’s happening with not just Google, but with all of our big companies.”

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