Trump’s warm birthday call to PM Modi signals thaw in India-US ties

Trump, on September 6, had described India-US ties as ‘very special’ and said there was ‘nothing to worry about,’ to which PM Modi quickly responded that he ‘deeply appreciated’ the sentiment and ‘fully reciprocated’ the assessment.

US President Donald Trump’s birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi late Tuesday evening carries more weight than the usual pleasantries.

The phone call, his second outreach to PM Modi in recent days, signals that New Delhi and Washington might be edging back towards normalcy after weeks of friction over trade and energy ties with Russia.

Trump, one of the first global leaders to extend birthday wishes to PM Modi, described the call as “wonderful” in his Truth Social post, praising the Prime Minister for doing a “tremendous job” and for backing his push to end the Russia-Ukraine war. “Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine!” Trump wrote.

Responding on X, PM Modi thanked Trump for his greetings, affirmed India’s support for “a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict,” as well as reiterated his commitment to elevate the India-US “Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights.”

The latest call remarkably marks the first direct conversation between the two leaders since last month, when Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian exports to 50 percent over New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases temporarily stalled trade talks that had been nearing completion.

Tuesday’s outreach now raises hopes of putting negotiations back on track and easing concerns of a prolonged tensions in bilateral ties between the two nations. Over the past two weeks, both sides have stepped up to strike struck a more conciliatory note.

This is, in fact, not the first time the US President has underscored his special ties with PM Modi since last month’s trade tensions.

Trump, on September 6, had described the India-US relationship as “very special” and insisted there was “nothing to worry about.” PM Modi, quick to respond, noted that he “deeply appreciated” the sentiment and “fully reciprocated” Trump’s assessment.

Meanwhile, in a parallel development, coinciding with Tuesday’s phone call, Indian and US officials held marathon trade discussions in New Delhi. This was the first face-to-face meeting since the August tariff hike. Led by US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, the meeting lasted nearly seven hours.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, the talks were “positive and forward-looking,” noting that both sides had agreed to “intensify efforts” to conclude a “mutually beneficial” trade agreement at the earliest.

Trump’s birthday call to PM Modi, alongside renewed trade talks, displays Washington’s recognition of India’s balance between ties with the US and its energy needs with Russia. The warm messaging signals a reset, with both nations displaying the intent to keep their bilateral ties on track.