India US relations: PM Modi speaks to president Trump over phone
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Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, reaffirming their commitment to a “mutually beneficial and trusted partnership” between the two nations.
"Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump @POTUS,” PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He also extended his congratulations to President Trump on his historic second term in office.
“We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security,” PM Modi added.
While the White House has yet to issue an official statement, it is expected to release a readout of the conversation soon, as per usual protocol.
This phone call marked the second conversation between the two leaders since President Trump's re-election. Their first conversation took place shortly after the election victory in November.
The leaders have developed a strong personal bond since Trump’s first term, from 2017 to 2021. The U.S. President addressed a rally in Houston in 2019, called the “Howdy Modi” rally, to honor Prime Minister Modi, and later visited India in February 2020 for the “Namaste Trump” event in Gujarat, PM Modi's home state.
The two leaders are expected to meet in person later this year. Officials from both nations are reportedly working to arrange a meeting in February, though no official announcements have been made. They are most likely to meet during President Trump's planned visit to India for the Quad summit, as India is set to host this year’s summit.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who represented India at President Trump’s inauguration last week, attended all related events, including a prayer service with notable figures like the Trump family, cabinet members, and influential tech leaders such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Sundar Pichai. Jaishankar also met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for a bilateral discussion, following a meeting of the Quad foreign ministers, including Australia’s Penny Wong and Japan’s Iwaya Takeshi.
With IANS inputs