Trump’s Birthday Call to PM Modi Marks Thaw in Strained Ties.
On the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, US President Donald Trump set aside weeks of sharp criticism of India’s Russian oil trade to deliver warm greetings and an unexpected embrace of New Delhi’s support for peace in Ukraine.
For months, Trump had castigated India, blaming its oil imports from Moscow for prolonging the war, and had slapped a punishing 50 per cent tariff on Indian exports. But on Tuesday, he struck a different note, calling Modi to wish him a happy birthday and thanking him for backing efforts to end the conflict.
“Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the war between Russia and Ukraine!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Modi responded with a measured message on X: “Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings. Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.”
The cordial exchange marked a sharp turn from recent tensions, when Washington berated India over Russian crude and used the issue to justify sweeping trade penalties. Earlier this month, however, Trump began softening his stance, calling India a “special partner” and hinting at easing trade frictions. Modi, in turn, described America as a “close friend and natural partner.”
Trade Talks Resume in Delhi
The thaw was underscored on Tuesday as trade delegations from both countries met in New Delhi, their first formal engagement since the tariff escalation. Officials described the seven-hour discussions as “positive and forward-looking,” with both sides agreeing to push toward an early, “mutually beneficial” agreement.
While not a full round of negotiations, the talks signaled momentum after weeks of deadlock. US negotiators, led by Brendan Lynch of the USTR, met their Indian counterparts headed by Commerce Department Special Secretary Rajesh Agarwal.
For now, the birthday call and revived dialogue suggest a tentative reset—an effort by both capitals to move past confrontation and restore confidence in a partnership both sides describe as comprehensive, balanced, and durable despite disputes over oil, tariffs, and Ukraine.
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