PM Modi and President Trump take first steps towards mending ties

Prime Minister Modi on Saturday responded to Donald Trump’s assurance that he would always “be friends with Modi,” underlining that India-US ties remain strong and stable with no reason for concern.

India and the United States appear to be moving towards restoring warmth in their relationship, with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump emphasizing their personal rapport and the enduring strength of bilateral engagement. The recent strain that had developed over issues such as trade negotiations and India’s purchase of Russian oil seems to be gradually giving way to reconciliation, as the two leaders have taken initial steps to repair the drift.

Prime Minister Modi’s public response to President Trump’s remark that he would always “be friends with Modi” and that “there was nothing to worry about India-US special relationship” has set the tone for officials on both sides to work intensively towards concluding a mutually beneficial trade agreement. The expectation now is that negotiators from New Delhi and Washington will attempt to finalize an arrangement that satisfies the interests of both economies while reaffirming the partnership between the two democracies.

Following the exchange between the two leaders, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also underscored that Prime Minister Modi attaches the highest importance to relations with the United States. The message from New Delhi is clear: despite differences on specific policy matters, India views its ties with Washington as strategic and indispensable.

In response to questions about whether India was leaning closer to China, President Trump dismissed such speculation, saying: “I get along with Modi as you know, he was here a couple of months ago, we went to Rose Garden and did a press conference.” This direct assertion sought to clarify that Washington does not perceive a strategic loss of India to Beijing, but rather continues to view New Delhi as a key partner.

With both leaders openly reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the bilateral partnership, analysts believe that the sharp rhetoric that had been emanating from Washington may now tone down or even stop. There is also speculation that Modi and Trump could hold direct conversations over the phone soon, issuing directives to senior officials on both sides to move forward in ironing out disagreements and consolidating ties.

After his June 17 telephone discussion with the US President, Prime Minister Modi took to X to state: “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.” His post reflects the mood in New Delhi, where policymakers have been carefully waiting for tensions from Washington to ease and for the US administration to revisit its stance. India, officials insist, has no intention of drifting towards China and has only been recalibrating relations with Beijing while continuing its traditional engagements with Russia.

The consensus within Raisina Hill is that every effort should be directed at concluding a trade pact with Washington, conveying that cooperation between the two natural allies is not only important bilaterally but also contributes to global stability and prosperity.

Signs of optimism had already emerged last month when one of India’s senior national security officials visited the United States and held meetings with top representatives from intelligence and enforcement agencies. The message conveyed by the American side was reassuring: disputes over trade should be seen as temporary hurdles, while the broader trajectory of India-US relations remains robust and forward-looking.

Together, these developments signal that New Delhi and Washington are seeking to put recent discord behind them and reinforce their role as partners committed to advancing shared interests on the global stage.