Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sought to ease concerns over the strained trajectory of India–US relations by responding positively to US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about their personal rapport.

Trump, while expressing his displeasure over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil despite American sanctions, had clarified that he and Modi would “always be friends” and that the India–US relationship remained “very special.”

In a gesture of goodwill, Modi wrote on X that he “deeply appreciates and fully reciprocates President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of our ties,” and reaffirmed that India and the United States enjoy a “very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership.”

His message was a balancing act—underscoring continuity in bilateral ties while addressing the tensions that have flared up over tariffs and foreign policy divergences.

The friction between New Delhi and Washington surfaced after the Trump administration imposed stringent secondary tariffs on India, pushing duties on certain Indian exports beyond 50 percent—among the highest levies imposed on any partner nation besides Brazil.

Washington’s decision, driven largely by dissatisfaction with India’s energy dealings with Russia, was firmly criticised by New Delhi as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” India maintained that its purchases of Russian oil were in line with its strategic and economic needs and not in violation of its broader commitments to the global order.

The dispute was further complicated by Trump’s disappointment at India’s unwillingness to allow his mediation in its conflict with Pakistan, an approach India has traditionally rejected on grounds of sovereignty.

America’s economic coercion, coupled with rhetoric on India’s balancing ties with Russia and China, gave the impression of bilateral drift despite otherwise robust engagement.

Against this backdrop of strained trade and foreign policy friction, Modi used the occasion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin to visibly signal India’s closeness with Moscow and Beijing.

In a highly symbolic moment captured by cameras, Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping were seen greeting one another warmly, shaking hands and embracing—underscoring a sense of unity at a time when all three powers were in varying degrees of tension with the United States.

Modi amplified this imagery by sharing photos of himself with both Putin and Xi, a display that conveyed an important diplomatic message: India values strategic multipolarity and would not be pressured into subordinating its policy choices to Washington’s agenda.

This outreach coincided with Trump’s sharp rhetoric about “losing India to China”—a statement that made headlines globally. Although he quickly tempered his remarks by asserting that he did not truly believe India had shifted into Beijing’s orbit, the comment reflected a degree of unease within Washington about its ability to retain India as a strategic partner amidst growing divergences.

Trump’s clarification, however, was meant to soften the narrative. He reiterated that India and the US share a “special relationship,” pointed to the good personal chemistry he enjoys with Modi, and recalled their joint press conference at the White House Rose Garden a few months earlier.

He also stated that bilateral trade talks with India were “going well,” indicating that negotiations were still underway to resolve disagreements over tariffs. His remarks were thus a blend of reassurance and criticism: while acknowledging differences over Russian oil and tariffs, he stressed that there was ultimately “nothing to worry about” and that such occasional frictions were natural between close partners.

Modi’s response, pitched with careful diplomacy, emphasised continuity in the strategic partnership and tempered Trump’s frustrations with affirmations of mutual respect and shared vision. This interplay highlights the layered nature of India–US relations: deepening cooperation across defence, technology, and strategic domains, counterbalanced by sharp friction over trade and foreign policy autonomy.

With India asserting its right to pursue independent external relationships, especially with Moscow and Beijing, and Washington seeking to consolidate economic leverage, the ties have entered a phase of negotiation and recalibration rather than rupture.

Modi’s choice to “fully reciprocate” despite ongoing disputes signals New Delhi’s intent to preserve the overall momentum of the India–US partnership while keeping its own strategic autonomy intact amidst global power shifts.

Based On ANI Report