'Deeply appreciate President Trump's sentiments'; PM Modi's first response to US president after tariff fallout

NEW DELHI: Days after his tariff threats and talks laced with invectives at India, even calling the country’s economy a dead one, US President Donald Trump adopted a far more affable tone the other day after sensing India’s slow lenience with former foe China.

In a big surprise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to Trump’s latest détente, which gave signals of ‘melting the ice’ between the two nations.

PM Modi wrote on X:

“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.”

US President Donald Trump, in his response on Monday, termed Modi as a powerful leader and one of his good friends. In another post, which he put on his social media account Truth Social, Trump showed discontent and worry over both Russia and India striking a camaraderie with communist China.

"I will always be friends with Modi. India and the United States have a special relationship. However, I am not happy with what he is doing right at the moment" said US President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly not attending the UN General Assembly session this month due to the deteriorating India-US relations. Instead, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will address the UN on September 27 on behalf of India.

Trump was also warned that supporting India would pave the way for the strengthening of the BRICS grouping. India had earlier responded that it is India's sovereign right to decide which countries it wants to trade with as a country. Trump's standoff with India came after India rejected his demand to stop importing oil from Russia.