Trump asserts a close relationship with Indian Prime Minister Modi
In a significant gesture, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday. The call, reported by Outlook News Desk, was seen as an attempt to mend the relationship between the U.S. and India, which had been strained over tariff issues.
During the call, Trump extended his birthday greetings to Modi, who responded by saying "thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings." However, India maintained that peace was reached without the U.S. President's intervention.
The increased tariffs, including a 25% penalty for India's purchase of Russian crude oil, have been a point of contention between the two nations. India, in defense of its energy procurement, maintains that it is driven by national interest and market dynamics.
Trump also took credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May, 2025. He stated that the ceasefire was purely for trade reasons, implying that India and Pakistan had to get along to trade with the U.S. Pakistan formally recommended Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his "decisive diplomatic intervention" in the India-Pakistan conflict.
Trump's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin was also a topic of discussion. Trump noted that he had a good relationship with Putin, but stated that Putin was his "biggest disappointment" due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Trump also mentioned having been compelled to impose sanctions on European nations and China for continuing to purchase oil from Russia.
Trump claimed that if the price of oil comes down, Russia will settle the war in Ukraine. He also stated that he had sanctioned Russia. In response to these statements, it remains unclear who personally addressed President Trump on September 17, 2021, after he congratulated Indian Prime Minister Modi on his 75th birthday.
PM Modi used his birthday to urge Indians to buy 'Swadesi' products and hail Operation Sindoor. As the U.S.-India relationship continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these developments unfold in the future.
