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‘PM Modi, Trump May Meet Soon’: US Official Stresses ‘Positive’ Ties With India Despite Tariff Row

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A senior US State Department official said PM Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump are likely to meet soon, highlighting their “very positive” relationship.

PM Modi with Donald Trump (Photo: PTI)

PM Modi with Donald Trump (Photo: PTI)

A senior official from the US State Department has suggested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump are likely to meet in the coming days, underlining that both leaders share a “positive” relationship.

Speaking to news agency ANI, the official also acknowledged that India and the United States are working through a period of diplomatic friction, but stressed that the ties between the two countries remain “on a positive trajectory” despite Donald Trump’s public expressions of frustration.

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The remarks came after the official was questioned on the seemingly contradictory messages emanating from Washington, where officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasise the strategic importance of the partnership while simultaneously imposing trade restrictions and publicly criticising New Delhi’s policies.

“I’m sure you’ll see the two (PM Modi and Donald Trump) meet. They have a very, very positive relationship,” the official was quoted as saying.

“Plans are also underway for a Quad Summit involving the four Indo-Pacific partners, potentially scheduled for later this year or early 2026,” he said.

Speaking on the tariff row between India and the United States, the official said, “The current diplomatic tensions reflect the complex nature of US-India relations, where strategic partnership goals must be balanced against specific policy disagreements.”

“While Trump’s direct communication style has created some friction, both sides appear committed to maintaining and expanding their cooperation.”

“The frequency of high-level meetings and the priority given to India in the new administration’s diplomatic calendar suggest that Washington views the relationship as too important to be derailed by current disputes,” the official, who was not named, told ANI.

Speaking further on Donald Trump, the official said, “The President is not shy about when he is frustrated with countries. You’ll see it on Truth Social. This is one of the most transparent administrations in history.”

The official also said that the relevance of the relationship between the two nations is evident in the frequency of high-level engagements. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first official act after taking office was to meet with the Quad grouping, comprising the US, India, Japan and Australia, followed immediately by bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first foreign leaders to visit the White House after Trump’s inauguration, meeting the President in the Oval Office within two weeks,” the official added.

“When you step back from this brief moment, and look at the relationship, it is really on a positive trajectory, and it’s only expanding,” the official noted.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra
Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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