‘You’ll see Trump, Modi meet’: US official acknowledges ‘turbulence’ with India but maintains positive trajectory

The significance India and US assign to the relationship is underscored by frequent high-level interactions, said the official

A senior US state department official has indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump could meet in the coming days, noting that both leaders share a “positive” relationship.

“I’m sure you’ll see the two (PM Modi and Donald Trump) meet. They have a very, very positive relationship," ANI quoted the official 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, the report added.

The official, responding to a query by ANI, acknowledged the “turbulence” in India-US relationship, but stressed that the ties between the two countries remain “on a positive trajectory" despite Donald Trump’s public expressions of frustration.

The remarks were prompted by questions about Washington’s contradictory stance: officials, including secretary of state Marco Rubio, praise the partnership’s strategic weight even as the US enforces trade restrictions and voices sharp criticism of India’s policies.

“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 said, referring to Trump’s direct messages on social media platforms.

Despite this frank communication style, the administration maintains that India remains "a good friend and as a partner, and as really a partner of the future."

The significance both sides assign to the relationship is underscored by frequent high-level interactions. On assuming office, secretary of state Marco Rubio first met with the Quad partners -- US, India, Japan and Australia – followed immediately by bilateral talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

After Trump’s inauguration this January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first foreign leaders to visit the White House, meeting the President in Oval office within just two weeks, the official stated.

"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, who was not named, told ANI.

Speaking about Jaishankar's meeting with secretary of state Marco Rubio in New York on September 22, 2025, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly High-level Week, the official confirmed the Russian oil issue was discussed.

"The Russian oil issue was absolutely discussed as it's discussed in every single engagement we have," the official said. "He's been clear with our European partners. He's been clear with India."