• Source:JND

US President Donald Trump has described India as an “important strategic partner” for the United States in the Indo-Pacific region and hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great friend”, underlining renewed warmth in bilateral ties between New Delhi and Washington.

The remarks were shared by the US Embassy in India in a post on X on Tuesday, quoting President Trump’s views on India’s civilisational legacy and its growing strategic role on the global stage. “India is home to one of the world’s oldest civilisations. 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 post said.

PM Modi-Trump Engagement

Trump’s praise comes days after the two leaders held a telephone conversation, during which they reviewed progress in India-US relations and discussed regional and global developments. Prime Minister Modi later described the interaction as “warm and engaging”, saying both sides reaffirmed their commitment to working together for global peace, stability and prosperity. White House officials said to reporters that the leaders exchanged views on strengthening cooperation across key areas, including trade, defence, energy, critical technologies and regional security, with a focus on sustaining momentum in the comprehensive global strategic partnership.

The outreach coincides with progress on the trade front, as Indian and American negotiators recently concluded two days of talks on a proposed bilateral trade agreement. The deal is expected to address market access concerns and may provide relief from steep tariffs imposed by the Trump administration earlier this year. A US delegation led by Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer was in New Delhi from December 9 to 11 for discussions on an interim framework and the broader Bilateral Trade Agreement. Officials on both sides have indicated that negotiations are moving steadily, even as they avoid setting rigid timelines.

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Repairing Strained Ties?

India-US relations had witnessed a period of strain following Washington’s decision to sharply raise tariffs on Indian goods and criticism from US officials over New Delhi’s energy ties with Russia. However, recent high-level engagements signal efforts by both sides to stabilise and strengthen the relationship.

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Washington has repeatedly positioned India as a central pillar of its Indo-Pacific strategy, highlighting New Delhi’s role in maritime security, resilient supply chains and regional stability. Cooperation under the Quad framework, involving India, the US, Japan, and Australia, remains a key element of this approach. Trump’s remarks, echoed by the US Embassy, are being seen as a strong political signal reaffirming the strategic importance of India in American foreign policy, even as both countries work to deepen cooperation across defence, technology and trade.


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