Fully Reciprocate His Sentiments: PM Modi On Trump's "Will Always Be Friends" Remark

Amid signs of strains in ties between the US and India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday responded to American President Donald Trump's "always be friends" comment, saying he "fully reciprocates his sentiments"

"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," PM Modi said in a post on X.

The Indian PM retweeted a post from news agency ANI in which Trump claimed that he will always be a friend with Modi.

On Friday, President Trump referred to India-US relations as a "very special relationship" and emphasized that he and Prime Minister Modi would remain friends, assuring that there is "nothing to worry about".

Despite this, he voiced dissatisfaction with "he (PM Modi) is doing" in the present context.
In response to ANI's question, "Are you ready to reset relations with India at this point?", President Trump replied, "I always will. I'll always be friends with (PM) Modi. He's a great Prime Minister. I'll always be friends, but I just don't like what he is doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a very special relationship. There is nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion."

It came hours after Trump claimed in his post on Truth Social that he is losing "India and Russia to China". But he has clarified that he does not think that has happened.

"I don't think we have. I've been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia. I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India - 50 per cent, a very high tariff. I get along very well with (PM) Modi, as you know. He was here a couple of months ago; in fact, we went to the Rose Garden and had a press conference."

This is the first reaction made by PM Modi to a Trump remark since the US President imposed 50% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil.

While the US President has not attacked the Indian PM, Trump's aides Peter Navarro, a White House Advisor on trade, and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have targeted the Indian PM on ties with Moscow.