US President Donald Trump has hinted at India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the White House as early as February. He said that the two had a productive phone conversation which should promote fair relations between their countries.
It’s reported that they addressed bilateral relations between India and the US during the call.
The conversation assumes more significance given Trump’s hard-line stance on immigration and tariffs. In the past, Trump called India the king of tariffs, indicating imposing 100% tariffs on the BRICS group, which includes India.
“I had an extensive discussion with him this morning (Monday). He will likely be coming to the White House in the upcoming month, probably in February. We share a very strong relationship with India,” Trump was quoted as saying.
“We covered a lot of ground (during the call with Modi),” he remarked.
A statement from the White House mentioned that Trump and PM Modi discussed having deeper collaboration between the two nations besides touching upon several regional matters, including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe.
“Today, President Donald J Trump had a fruitful discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. The two leaders spoke about enhancing and strengthening cooperation,” the statement read.
“The President underscored the significance of India increasing its purchases of American-made security products and progressing towards a fair bilateral trading relationship,” according to the White House announcement.
“The leaders talked about the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Modi to the White House, highlighting the robust friendship and strategic bonds between our countries.”
PM Modi and Trump asserted their intent 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.”
Earlier, PM Modi was upbeat after speaking with his ‘friend’ Trump. “We will collaborate for the welfare of our citizens and towards global peace, prosperity, and security,” he tweeted.
The two have shared a warm association, with PM Modi congratulating Trump after winning the elections, and the latter calling him a magnificent individual.
During his first presidential term, Trump travelled to India. The two leaders addressed gatherings at rallies in Houston in September 2019 and Ahmedabad in February 2020.
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