Trump praises Modi: PM reciprocates US President's sentiments; India-US relationship healing?

NEW DELHI: Donald Trump has reversed his stance after receiving indications that India will rely more on Russia than the US in defence deals, following India's alliance with China to overcome the tariff blow.

He praised the India-US relationship as 'special'. "There is nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion," Trump added. He also called Modi a great Prime Minister. The Prime Minister welcomed Trump's change of stance.

Trump's response was to a national media outlet. '“I'll always be friends with (Narendra) Modi… He’s a great prime minister. He's great. But I just don't like what he's doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a special relationship. There's nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion," - Trump said.

"Looks like we've lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China," Trump had quipped the other day. "May they have a long and prosperous future together!" he said while sharing a picture of Modi, Putin and Xi Jinping together on social media.

Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump's sentiments and positive assessment of our ties, Modi wrote in the X. He also pointed out that the two countries have a comprehensive and global strategic partnership.

"PM Modi attaches enormous importance to our partnership with the US. Where President Trump is concerned, PM Modi has always had a very good personal equation with President Trump. But the point is that we remain engaged with the US," said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

PM will not attend UN

The Prime Minister will not attend the high-level discussion at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly; instead, S. Jaishankar will represent India. He will speak on the 27th of this month. Trump will address the Assembly on the 23rd.

Trade will be affected if India is provoked

1. The deals to buy F-35 fighter jets from the US will be in trouble
2. Russia is ready to provide Sukhoi 57 to India. An agreement was reached yesterday to buy more S-400
3. Mission 500 to increase bilateral trade to 500 billion dollars by 2030 will be stuck halfway
4. The US strategy of keeping India as an ally to stop China, which is trying to become a world power, will be set back
5. The new world order of the India-Russia-China axis will reduce the importance of the US