India-US ties: Donald Trump hails PM Modi as 'great friend'; calls New Delhi a key strategic partner

US President Donald Trump described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great friend” and reaffirmed the United States’ view of India as a strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific.

On Tuesday, the US Embassy in India quoted President Donald Trump on X, saying, “India is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations. It is an amazing country and an important strategic partner for America in the Indo-Pacific region. We have a great friend in PM Modi.”



The exchange comes amidst ongoing efforts by both countries to finalise a bilateral trade deal. Last week, PM Modi and President Trump held a telephonic conversation during which they reviewed progress in bilateral relations and discussed regional and global developments.




During the call on Thursday, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to carrying forward bilateral cooperation while exchanging views on regional and global issues. The conversation followed PM Modi’s recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and came amid renewed efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, building on Trump’s peace plan.

The leaders also discussed ongoing trade negotiations, including US requests for greater access for farm products such as corn and soybean. PM Modi described the discussion as “warm and engaging,” posting on X that both sides had reviewed steady progress in bilateral relations and emphasized continued collaboration for global peace, stability, and prosperity.

The telephonic exchange marked the first conversation since their call days after Diwali and signaled a greater willingness on both sides to engage, even as disagreements persist over trade.

Beyond trade, India and the US also focused on counter-terrorism cooperation following the Red Fort attack and on broader strategic issues, including defence, energy, technology, civil nuclear collaboration, critical minerals and cooperation under the TRUST initiative.

The discussions reaffirmed a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and deepening collaboration in areas that support both US security and India’s long-term strategic goals, according to a US embassy spokesperson.

On September 17, Trump wished PM Modi on his 75th birthday, calling him a “tremendous” leader. PM Modi thanked Trump for the greetings and expressed support for the US initiative toward a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while reaffirming his commitment to take the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights.

Earlier, on September 9, PM Modi had expressed confidence that ongoing trade negotiations would unlock the “limitless potential” of India-US relations.

The US Embassy highlighted that the conversation between the two leaders also focused on regional stability and global peace, reflecting shared interests in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The exchanges further underscore the personal rapport between PM Modi and President Trump, as well as the broader strategic partnership between India and the United States.