NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday hailed India-US relations after Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the compliments given by US President Donald Trump.Amid the ongoing tussle over tariffs, Jaishankar said that PM Modi attaches “enormous importance” to the partnership between New Delhi and Washington.”PM Modi attaches enormous importance to our partnership with the US,” Jaishankar said.”Where President Trump is concerned, he (PM Modi) has always had a very good personal equation with President Trump. But the point is that we remain engaged with the US, and at this time, I can’t say more than that. But that’s really what I would say,” he added.This comes after Trump said that he will always be friends with the Prime Minister but added that he does not “like what he is doing at this particular moment.”While talking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump said that the Washington and New Delhi shares a “very special relationship” and adding that there is “nothing to worry about” in the ties between the two countries.”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,” Trump said. “There is nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion,” he added.PM Modi responded by saying he “deeply appreciate and fully reciprocates” Trump’s sentiments.In a post on X, PM Modi wrote: “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.”The remarks by the two leaders came at a time of strained bilateral ties, following Washington’s move to impose a 50% tariff on India.Trump has imposed 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on India and an additional 25 per cent for Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil.India has termed the tariffs imposed on it as “unjustified and unreasonable.”“Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” India had said.
