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India’s pragmatic and mature approach has enabled Trump to get an opportunity for an off-ramp, perhaps opening up the possibility of a phone call between both leaders soon
In the theatre of geopolitics, friendships are tested and statements are twisted, but equations endure. (PTI)
Will Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi be friends again? That’s the question making waves in global diplomacy today.
On one hand, Trump says: “I will always be FRIENDS with Modi. He’s GREAT. I just don’t like what he is doing at this particular moment.” He insists that “India and the United States have a SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP… There is NOTHING to worry about.”
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But when his own Truth Social post—“We may have lost India to deep, dark China”—sparks confusion, he brushes it aside, saying, “I don’t think we have.”
So, where does the US-India friendship really stand?
PM Modi on Saturday responded warmly to Trump’s outreach. “I deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of our ties.” Not only were these Modi’s first comments on Trump in recent months but also the first exchange of some communication between both leaders—albeit only on social media. Modi added in his post on X: “India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership.”
India has been handling the issue of tariffs in a mature and pragmatic way. PM Modi never joined the war of words with Trump over the last one month since the 50 per cent tariffs kicked in. The only phrase that the prime minister used to describe the matter was “economic selfishness”.
PM Modi did send signals though by traveling to China for the SCO Summit and taking a private ride with Russian President Vladmir Putin in the latter’s car that also saw the two leaders enjoy a long chat. This was despite Trump frowning on India for buying Russian oil.
Senior government ministers such as Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal this week also did not take any potshots at Trump and said things will soon get better with the US.
This approach has enabled Trump to get an opportunity for an off-ramp. This perhaps also opens up the possibility of a phone call between both leaders after their last call way back on June 17.
But here’s the twist: PM Modi won’t be at the United Nations General Assembly this year. Instead, foreign minister S Jaishankar will represent India.
Is this a snub? Actually, no. This has been the convention for years. In his 11 years as PM, Modi has addressed the UNGA’s General Debate only four times—2014, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Jaishankar has been doing the honours since 2022.
But all eyes are not on New York—they’re on the QUAD Summit later this year. PM Modi invited Trump to India, and Trump had accepted. Now, reports say Trump may be rethinking that visit amid tensions over India’s 50 per cent tariff and trade friction.
The US State Department has passed the buck to the White House, while New Delhi is waiting and watching.
So, the big question, will Trump still come to India? Will QUAD be the stage for a Trump-Modi reset?
In the theatre of geopolitics, friendships are tested and statements are twisted, but equations endure.
Trump says he “gets along very well with Modi” and the prime minister says the partnership is “positive and forward-looking”.
For the world’s biggest democracy and the world’s oldest democracy, the friendship might be stressed, but it’s far from broken. The coming months will decide whether Trump and Modi’s personal chemistry once again becomes the driving force of India-US ties.
About the Author
Aman Sharma, Executive Editor – National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office….Read More
Aman Sharma, Executive Editor – National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office…. Read More
September 06, 2025, 11:23 IST
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