As Trump looks to reset ties, PM thanks 'friend' for birthday call

PM Modi and President Donald Trump looked to arrest the steep fall in India-US relations in the past few months, as the latter called the Indian PM to wish him on his birthday and to discuss recent developments in bilateral cooperation, including negotiations for a trade agreement. This was the first time that the two leaders spoke since US imposed an additional 25% tariff on India for purchasing oil from Russia, leading to a dramatic downturn in ties. Modi thanked Trump for the call, addressing him as "my friend" on X, while backing the US president's efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

"Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine," Trump posted on Truth Social. tnn

PM Modi, US president last spoke in June

The talks also followed resumption of the India-US negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement . Both sides described the trade talks on Tuesday as positive.

"Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday. Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict," said Modi in a post on X.

There was no official readout from both sides of the conversation till late in the evening. Trump also did not post anything on his social media account about the conversation. During their last conversation in June, Trump had invited Modi to hop over to Washington from Canada but the Prime Minister had declined the invitation.