Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly responded to US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about their friendship, marking his first acknowledgment of ties with Trump since Washington imposed additional tariffs on Indian imports.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi formally shared that he “deeply appreciates” and “fully reciprocates” Trump’s sentiments, adding that India and the United States enjoy a “very positive and forward-looking comprehensive global strategic partnership.” His response came shortly after President Trump told reporters at the White House that he would “always be friends with Modi,” describing him as a great prime minister, while expressing disapproval of India’s recent trade stance.
Trump remarked, “I’ll always be friends with Modi. He’s great. But I just don’t like what he’s doing at this particular moment. India and the United States have a special relationship. There’s nothing to worry about—we just have moments on occasion.”
India-US Trade Relations Strained by Tariffs
The backdrop to this exchange is rising trade friction between the two nations. In August, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports, followed by an additional 25% duty in response to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil, bringing the total tariff burden to 50%.
India criticized the move as unjustified and accused Washington of unfairly targeting its trade with Moscow. The escalating tariffs have added pressure to India-US trade relations, which both sides have otherwise described as strategic and long-term.
US Officials Expect Fresh Negotiations
The United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently suggested that India would likely engage in negotiations with Washington within the next few months. He described India as the “vowel” between Russia and China in the BRICS grouping, highlighting New Delhi’s central role in global geopolitics.
Meanwhile, Trump took to his Truth Social account, expressing concern over India’s growing closeness with Russia and China. He wrote, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” The post included an old photo of PM Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
Modi-Trump Friendship Continues
While India pushed back strongly against the US tariffs, it has so far avoided responding to Trump’s suggestion that New Delhi is moving closer to Beijing. Instead, the Indian government has highlighted its enduring partnership with Washington, reaffirming the “special relationship” between the two democracies despite current trade disputes.
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