Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is also “looking forward” to speaking with President Trump, hours after the US leader softened his rhetoric on trade negotiations between the two countries.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, declared that “India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations,” and described Modi as a “very good friend”. He expressed confidence that there would be “no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion” and anticipated discussions in the coming weeks.
Modi replied on X, underscoring that both countries are close friends and natural partners, and expressing optimism that the engagement “will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership”. He added that teams on both sides are working to conclude discussions “at the earliest” and that he, like Trump, is looking forward to speaking with President Trump, with the goal of building “a brighter, more prosperous future” for both nations.
This exchange represents a notable shift in tone after weeks of escalating tensions rooted in the US’s imposition of steep reciprocal tariffs—up to 50 per cent—on Indian goods, largely in response to India’s continued purchases of discounted Russian crude. Those tariffs were flagged by India’s chief economic advisor as potentially cutting GDP growth by approximately 0.5 per cent.
In addition to the softened rhetoric, Trump has signalled a more constructive approach by urging renewed trade talks, while Modi’s response emphasised shared strategic alignment—a departure from the previous period of public strain, with conflicting signals from senior US officials and advisers further complicating the bilateral relationship.
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