New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke to each other over a phone conversation focusing on continuing the upward trajectory of India-US ties.
Following the phone talks, Modi said both sides are committed to mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. "Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump @POTUS. Congratulated him on his historic second term," the prime minister said on X.
"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," he said.
Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump @POTUS. Congratulated him on his historic second term. 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,…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 27, 2025
Later, the White House released a handout that called the phone call "productive" and said Trump sought a "fair" bilateral trading relationship and deeper India-US cooperation.
The two leaders also discussed plans for Modi to visit the US, the White House said in the handout. “Today, President Donald J Trump held a productive call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. The two leaders discussed expanding and deepening cooperation," the White House said.
They also discussed a range of regional issues, including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. “The President emphasised the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment and moving toward a fair bilateral trading relationship,” the handout read.
“The leaders discussed plans for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House, underscoring the strength of the friendship and strategic ties between our nations,” according to the handout.
Both Modi and Trump emphasised their commitment to advance the "US-India strategic partnership and the Indo-Pacific Quad partnership, with India hosting Quad Leaders for the first time later this year."
Like in many countries, there have been some concerns in India as well over the Trump administration’s approach to immigration and tariffs. Trump has already talked about slapping “100 per cent tariffs” on the BRICS grouping, a bloc that includes India as well.
Speaking during a weekly press briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referred to India’s ongoing dialogue with the US on matters related to trade and immigration, and expressed hoped that both sides will be able to address any issue.
Trade occupies a special place within the strong and multi-faceted India-US relationship, and the two sides reached a record level of trade in goods and services worth USD 190 billion in 2023, Jaiswal said.
During his first term as president, Trump’s last foreign trip was to India. Trump and Modi addressed thousands of people at two different rallies in Houston in September 2019 and Ahmedabad in February 2020. Modi was also among the top three world leaders to speak with Trump after his stunning electoral victory in November 2024.
