US President Donald Trump indicated on Thursday that he may visit India next year, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reaffirming his personal rapport with his Indian counterpart.
At the White House, speaking with reporters, Trump spoke about ongoing trade talks between New Delhi and Washington, and addressed his recent comments on India's energy imports.
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Positive talks with PM Modi
As per a report by The Times of India, Trump said his talks with Modi were "going along smoothly" and once again referred to the close personal relationship he has with the Indian prime minister. "He (PM Modi) largely stopped buying from Russia. And he is a friend of mine, and we speak. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a great man. He is a friend of mine, and we speak and he wants me to go there. We will figure that out, I will go... Prime Minister Modi is a great man and I will be going." Asked specifically if he was planning to travel to India next year, he said, "It could be, yes."
Context of trade discussions
As per the report, the remarks come amid ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries. Early this year, the US imposed tariffs, including a 50 per cent duty and an additional 25 per cent levy, related to India's purchase of Russian oil. Trump earlier acknowledged India's steps to reduce imports of Russian crude during his Asia tour and called New Delhi's stance on that "very good", crediting PM Modi for the move.
India's Stand on Energy Imports
In response, the MEA reacted to Trump by saying that New Delhi's decisions on sourcing energy are led by the guiding principles of national interests and consumer welfare. "India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective," Times of India quoted MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal as saying.
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier pointed out Trump's optimistic view of the India-US relationship. She said, “The President is positive and feels very strongly about the India-US relationship. A few weeks ago, he spoke to the Prime Minister directly when he celebrated Diwali in the Oval Office with many high-ranking Indian American officials here at the White House.”
