NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi lost no time in deeply appreciating and reciprocating US President Donald Trump's sentiments, including his "positive assessment" of ties, suggesting this might be the moment both sides can use to turn the tide of negativity in the relationship that nosedived into the ground under Trump after scaling soaring peaks in the past 20 years.
Shortly thereafter, external affairs minister S Jaishankar amplified the message by saying Modi attaches enormous importance to the partnership with the US and always had a very good personal equation with Trump. "But the point is that we remain engaged with the US, and at this time, I can't say more than that. But that's really what I would say," said the minister, who will travel to New York this month to participate in the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session.
The development opens up the possibility of a phone call between the leaders, although diplomatic sources did not confirm if there was any such proposal yet. A bilateral meeting on the margins of the UNGA would have come in handy for seeking a reaffirmation from Trump of his commitment to the partnership, but the latest list of speakers released late on Friday suggested Jaishankar, and not Modi, would lead the Indian delegation.
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PM Modi reacts to Donald Trump's remarks on India-US ties amid tariff rowIndia had in July reserved a slot for the head of govt to address the UNGA on Sept 26. It has now told the Assembly that India's national statement will be delivered at the minister-level (Jaishankar). However, should the PM change his mind, he can still travel to New York as the latest list too is only provisional.
For its own sake though, India will hope Trump will stand by his latest remarks, unlike on India-Pakistan truce where he reportedly walked back his ceasefire claims, only to let loose a verbal torrent asserting he indeed ended the armed conflict between the two countries.
Amid all the talk about a possible shift in India's foreign policy and global realignment, particularly after the SCO summit, the MEA has stressed India cherishes its strategic partnership with the US and wants to carry it forward on the basis of shared interests and mutual respect. However, the govt remains wary of senior Trump administration officials' unprovoked and incessant tirades against India on not just trade but a range of issues, which has seen India ending up as the favourite whipping boy of Trump's MAGA support base, and will wait to see if Trump's latest remarks will put an end to this. Apart from the strife over trade and ties with Russia, India also has to contend with Trump's courting of China, an immigration overhaul that would hurt Indian IT professionals and his dalliance with Pakistan.
In quite literally an overnight shift from one extreme to another, Trump and Modi moved to quell the firestorm that has already singed the relationship as the former, hours after having declared India had been lost to China, said there was nothing to worry about in India-US ties.
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