Trump thanks PM Narendra Modi for supporting peaceful efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war during a birthday call that also reaffirmed U.S.-India cooperation.

President Donald Trump wished PM Narendra Modi a happy 75th birthday just hours after the two nations’ trade teams held “positive and forward-looking” talks here Tuesday, which led to the decision to step up efforts for an early conclusion of a “mutually beneficial” bilateral trade agreement.

I just got off the phone with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and it was great. I congratulated him on his birthday! He’s doing a fantastic job. Trump wrote on social media, “Thank you, Narendra, for your support in putting an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.”

Modi emphasized his commitment to developing the India-US comprehensive global relationship while highlighting the two presidents’ longstanding friendship.

Modi wrote on X. : “My friend President Trump, I appreciate your call and your kind words on my 75th birthday. Like you, I’m totally dedicated to advancing the India-US comprehensive and international partnership,” In addition, Modi emphasized India’s position as a global peace advocate by expressing support for Trump’s efforts to put a peaceful end to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

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 Narendra Modi’s Trade Strategy in Focus as India and US Hold Eight-Hour Meeting in New Delhi

The first tranche of the India-US trade agreement is expected to be finalized by November of this year, according to the announcement made in February.

Arriving in New Delhi on Monday evening, the US delegation, led by Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, met with the Indian team, led by India’s Chief Negotiator Rajesh Agrawal and Special Secretary in the Commerce and Industry Ministry, at Vanijya Bhawan here for the day. After the United States imposed 50% tariffs on Indian imports, this was the first meeting between the two parties. Officials from the ministry reported that the meeting lasted about eight hours.

The proposed bilateral trade deal negotiations were likewise characterized as “positive” by the United States.

“Lynch and his counterpart Agrawal had a productive meeting in Delhi to discuss the next steps in bilateral trade negotiations,” a US embassy spokeswoman stated.

The Commerce Ministry stated that all parties recognized the long-term significance of bilateral trade between the two nations and that the conversation was constructive and future-focused, addressing a number of trade-related topics.

The US became India’s top trading partner for the fourth year in a row in 2024–2025, with a $131.84 billion merchandise trade between the two countries. India’s exports to the United States totaled $86.5 billion.

Both parties will continue their virtual negotiations, according to sources.

 Narendra Modi Responds to US Tariffs on Indian Goods with Renewed Push for Trade Agreement

The move is a major step in repairing the two nations’ troubled commercial relations, especially in light of the US imposing 50% tariffs on a number of Indian imports, including a 25% duty related to India’s purchase of Russian oil. Analysts estimate that the tariffs will affect around $48 billion in Indian exports to the US and might reduce the nation’s GDP by 0.5%.

With the goal of concluding the first phase of the agreement by November, the one-day meetings in New Delhi were intended to address major issues of contention in the negotiations that started in March of this year. India and the US have negotiated the trade agreement in five rounds thus far.

Agrawal had earlier on Monday claimed that dialogue between the US and India had not been halted and that both nations were interacting virtually at different levels, including ministerial. Additionally, he had mentioned that this was not the sixth round of negotiations and that both parties would endeavor to come to an agreement through talks on the trade treaty.

As tensions escalated, a scheduled US delegation visit to New Delhi for the sixth round of negotiations from August 25–29 was abruptly postponed, bringing India-US relations to a low point in late August. The US’s attempt to get access to India’s dairy and agricultural markets, which New Delhi has adamantly opposed due to the risks to millions of small farmers, has remained one of the issues in the trade agreement between the US and India. “These are red lines for us,” a representative had previously told reporters, highlighting the necessity of making fair compromises.