PM Modi-Trump talk on phone after Putin's visit; assure ties for peace & prosperity

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a telephonic conversation on Thursday, during which the two leaders discussed the progress of their bilateral relationship and explored ways to expand cooperation across various domains. PM Modi shared details of the conversation on X, describing it as "very warm and engaging." The leaders reviewed progress in the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and exchanged views on significant regional and international developments, agreeing that India and the U.S. will continue their collaborative efforts toward global peace, stability, and prosperity.

The timing of the phone call is particularly noteworthy as it coincided with the commencement of two days of high-level trade talks between US negotiators and their Indian counterparts in New Delhi. A senior American official in Washington indicated that India had presented its strongest proposals yet for a long-pending bilateral trade pact, suggesting a renewed push to resolve tariff issues and strengthen economic ties.

Furthermore, today's call is the first interaction between PM Modi and President Trump since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s high-profile state visit to India last week. This sequence of events underscores the complex and often delicate balancing act of India's foreign policy, as it strives to maintain strong strategic partnerships with both the US and Russia amid geopolitical tensions. The conversation reaffirmed the mutual commitment of both leaders to deepen the strategic partnership across critical areas like energy, defence, and security.