Modi Calls Trump; Reviews India-US Strategic Partnership
Modi said they reviewed the progress in US-India bilateral relations
New Delhi:Amid ongoing discussions on reaching a bilateral trade agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump “had a very warm and engaging conversation” on Thursday evening. The two leaders exchanged views on enhancing economic ties and expanding cooperation in trade, critical technologies, energy, defence and security, officials said.
"We reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations and discussed regional and international developments. India and the US will continue to work together for global peace, stability and prosperity," Modi posted on X after the telephonic conversation.
Modi and Trump spoke amid somewhat strained ties between the two strategic partners, especially after the US imposed steep 50 per cent tariffs on India in August this year, half of which is a penalty for importing Russian oil.
During the conversation, both the leaders, according to reports, also agreed to work closely to address shared challenges and advance common interests. They also reviewed progress in the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership and expressed satisfaction at the steady strengthening of bilateral cooperation across all domains.
According to reports, Modi and Trump underlined the importance of sustaining momentum in shared efforts to enhance bilateral trade. The leaders also exchanged views on expanding cooperation in critical technologies, energy, defence and security, and other priority areas that are central to the implementation of the India-US Compact (Catalysing opportunities for military partnership, accelerated commerce & technology) for the 21st century, they added.
The Prime Minister and the US President also discussed various regional and global developments and agreed to work closely to address shared challenges and advance common interests, the officials said.
Just earlier this week, the US President had threatened to impose fresh tariffs on Indian rice exports to the US.
In the past few months, the Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May this year after the four-day military conflict between the two neighbours, even as New Delhi had refuted this at the highest levels. This has also been a major irritant between the two nations.