Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed US President Donald Trump’s recent comments on India’s global alignments, emphasizing the strength of ties between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US. On Saturday (Sep 6), Jaishankar responded to Trump’s reversal of his earlier statement that the US had “lost India and Russia to China,” highlighting Modi’s commitment to the India-US partnership.
Jaishankar’s Response to Trump’s Remarks
In an interview with ANI news agency, Jaishankar underscored the importance of the US-India relationship, stating, “Prime Minister Modi places immense value on our partnership with the United States.” He noted Modi’s strong personal rapport with Trump, saying, “The Prime Minister has always maintained a positive relationship with President Trump.” Acknowledging ongoing trade discussions, Jaishankar added, “We continue to engage with the US, but I’ll leave it at that for now.”
His comments followed a post by Modi on X, where the Indian leader expressed gratitude for Trump’s positive remarks about their relationship. Modi wrote, “I deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump’s sentiments. India and the US share a robust and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership.”
Trump’s Shifting Narrative on India
On Friday, Trump sparked controversy by posting an image of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Modi, captioned, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” The statement raised eyebrows, suggesting a shift in India’s geopolitical stance.
Hours later, Trump backtracked during a press interaction. When asked who was responsible for “losing” India, he clarified, “I don’t think we have lost India.” He expressed disappointment over India’s oil purchases from Russia, stating, “I’m disappointed that India is buying so much oil from Russia, and I’ve made that clear.” Trump referenced a 50% tariff imposed on India but emphasized his good relationship with Modi, noting, “I get along very well with Modi. He was here a few months ago.”
Softening his tone, Trump described the US-India relationship as “special” and affirmed his enduring friendship with Modi, despite current trade frictions. “I’ll always be friends with Modi,” he said, adding, “I just don’t like what he’s doing at this particular moment.”
