In phone call, PM Modi, US Prez Trump resolve to work towards partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to work towards a "trusted" partnership with a focus on boosting India-US cooperation in areas of trade, energy and defence in their first phone conversation since the American leader's inauguration last week.

 

Modi and Trump exchanged views on global issues, including the situation in West Asia and Ukraine, and reiterated their commitment to work together for promoting global peace, prosperity and security, according to an Indian readout.

 

It said both the leaders agreed to meet soon.

 

"Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump @POTUS. Congratulated him on his historic second term," Modi said on 'X'.

 

"We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security," he said.

 

It is learnt that the phone call was initiated from the Indian side.

 

In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the two leaders "reaffirmed" their commitment for a "mutually beneficial and trusted partnership".

 

"They discussed various facets of the wide-ranging bilateral Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and measures to advance it, including in the areas of technology, trade, investment, energy and defence," it said.

 

"The two leaders exchanged views on global issues, including the situation in West Asia and Ukraine, and reiterated their commitment to work together for promoting global peace, prosperity and security," the PMO said.

 

"The leaders agreed to remain in touch and meet soon at an early mutually convenient date," it added.

 

It is not immediately known whether the issues of immigration and tariff figured in the talks.

 

Like in many countries, there have been some concerns in India as well over the Trump administration's approach on immigration and tariff.

 

President Trump has already talked about slapping "100 per cent tariffs" on the BRICS grouping, a bloc that includes India too.

 

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week that India is looking for "bolder, bigger and a more ambitious" relationship with the US and indicated its readiness to work with the Trump administration to address issues like illegal immigration and trade.

 

The phone conversation between Modi and Trump came six days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held separate meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in Washington.

 

Jaishankar also attended the Quad foreign ministers' meeting in the American capital. The meeting was the Trump administration's first foreign policy engagement.

 

At a media briefing in Washington on January 22, Jaishankar said his meetings signalled that the Trump administration "prioritising" the bilateral relationship with India.

 

The external affairs minister also said that there was agreement between the two sides about the need to be bolder, bigger, and more ambitious about the bilateral relationship.

 

Asked about the Trump administration's policy on tariff and immigration, Jaiswal said on Friday that India is looking at addressing issues in a constructive manner.

 

"Our approach has always been to address issues in a constructive manner which is in keeping with the interests of both countries," he had said at his weekly media briefing.

 

"We remain in close communication with the US administration and would like to continue to work towards strengthening our economic partnership further," he said.