Trump Calls Modi ‘A Great Man and a Friend,’ Hints at India Visit Next Year Amid Trade Talks

United States President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “a great man” and “a friend,” suggesting he may visit India next year to bolster trade relations between the two countries.

Speaking to reporters at the White House after unveiling a new initiative to reduce the prices of weight loss drugs, Trump said his discussions with Modi were “going great.”

“He (PM Modi) largely stopped buying from Russia. And he is a friend of mine, and we speak. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a great man. He is a friend of mine, and he wants me to go there. We will figure that out — I will go,” Trump said, adding that the visit “could be” as early as next year.

The remarks come amid ongoing trade negotiations following Washington’s imposition of 50% tariffs — including an additional 25% duty — over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.

Shifting Dynamics in US-India Ties

Trump’s comments mark a departure from reports earlier this year suggesting strained ties between Washington and New Delhi. A New York Times report in August had claimed that Trump had dropped plans to attend the Quad summit in India after tensions over trade tariffs and Russian oil imports.

At the time, the report described the Trump-Modi relationship as having “unraveled,” citing the US President’s frustration over India’s continued energy trade with Moscow.

White House Reaffirms Strong Bilateral Ties

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed Trump’s commitment to strengthening US-India relations, saying, “The President feels very strongly about the India-US relationship.” She noted that Trump recently spoke to Modi during a Diwali celebration at the Oval Office, attended by senior Indian-American officials.

Trump has repeatedly credited Modi for reducing India’s reliance on Russian oil, calling New Delhi’s actions “very good.”

India’s Stand on Energy Purchases

Responding to Trump’s earlier remarks, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated that the country’s energy sourcing decisions are driven by national interest and consumer welfare.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India is a significant importer of oil and gas. Our import policies are guided by the objective of safeguarding the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario.”

He added that India has “steadily expanded energy cooperation with the United States” over the past decade and that “discussions are ongoing” to deepen this partnership further.