US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called the India-US relationship “very special,” just a day after his controversial remarks suggesting that the US had “lost India and Russia to China.” The diplomatic shift comes amid heightened trade tensions and US concerns over India’s ongoing import of Russian oil, which led Trump to impose a steep 50% tariff on Indian goods recently.
At a press briefing in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump stated, “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.” This comment followed his earlier message on Truth Social, where he wrote, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”.
The recent discord was triggered by India’s growing energy ties with Moscow. “I’ve been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia, and I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India, 50 per cent tariff, very high tariff,” Trump said, voicing frustration about Delhi’s trade policies but balancing those with repeated praise for Modi’s leadership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded diplomatically to Trump’s comments, tweeting, “Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of our ties. India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership.” Modi emphasized that India’s relationship with the US remains one of cooperation and mutual respect, even as differences over energy and tariffs persist.
India has defended its oil purchases as vital for economic reasons, citing energy affordability for its large population, while the US continues to push for coordinated efforts to pressure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Despite ongoing disagreements, both leaders have publicly reiterated the lasting strength of India-US diplomatic bonds.
Implications and Next Steps
The episode highlights the complexity of international alliances in a multipolar world. While trade and strategic interests occasionally cause friction, the commitment to maintaining strong ties remains clear on both sides. Observers expect further diplomatic engagement in upcoming summits and calls for constructive dialogue to manage differences while advancing shared interests such as technology, defense, and global stability
