Trump Reaffirms Friendship with Modi Amid Tariff Tensions and India's “Xi-Putin” Global Manoeuvres

US President Donald Trump on Saturday, in a clear departure from previous hard stance, has described the bond between India and the United States as a "unique partnership," emphasising that his personal rapport with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains strong and enduring. Despite this, he voiced concerns about certain recent actions by the Indian leader, assuring that any issues are temporary and resolvable.

While responding to media, when questioned about potential efforts to rebuild ties with India, yet again, Trump responded affirmatively. "I always will. I'll always be friends with Modi. He's a great Prime Minister. I'll always be friends, but I just don't like what he is doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a very special relationship. There is nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion”, he said

On the topic of ongoing trade negotiations with India and other nations, Trump indicated that discussions are progressing positively. However, he shifted focus to express frustration with the European Union's recent penalties against American companies, particularly a massive fine levied on Google.

"Things are moving forward nicely with various partners," Trump noted. "We're making strong headway overall. But the EU's actions, especially against Google and our major firms, are disappointing”, he said

Trump's comments followed his strong rebuke on Truth Social against the EU's approximately $3.5 billion penalty on Google for alleged anticompetitive behaviour in digital advertising. He labeled the decision as biased and vowed that his administration would challenge such measures. Addressing his earlier social media statement suggesting that the US had "ceded" influence over India and Russia to China, Trump pushed back against that interpretation. "I don't believe that's the case," he told ANI. "It's frustrating that India is sourcing so much energy from Russia - I’ve made that clear to them. In response, we've applied a hefty 50% tariff on Indian goods. Still, my relationship with Modi is excellent; we met recently at the White House for a joint press event in the Rose Garden."

This statement comes in the wake of Trump's Truth Social post, where he remarked, "Looks like we've lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”. Indo-U.S. ties have been hit ever since Trump’s tariff imposition, what New Delhi described as ‘unilateral’. India's strategic response was on full display at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, where Prime Minister Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The warm interactions, including handshakes, hugs, and a widely circulated video of Modi pulling Xi and Putin together in a symbolic gesture of unity, went viral on social media, what many hailed as a bold signal of India's refusal to yield to US pressure. The summit underscored India's pursuit of strategic autonomy, strengthening ties with China and Russia to counterbalance Western influence, while navigating the complexities of global trade and geopolitics.​