PM Modi Good Friend, India and US Will Get to Trade Deal: Trump

Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office in Washington, Trump said, “We’ll get to a deal because I like your Prime Minister a lot. He’s a good friend of mine. We get along great, and we’re going to make a deal.”

Referring to trade ties, he added, “They charged us tremendous tariffs and paid nothing. Now it is the exact reverse and we are making a lot of money with India.”

The remarks come amid ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries in New Delhi. India has reiterated that both nations remain committed to strengthening bilateral ties. There is also a possibility that Prime Minister Modi and President Trump could meet on the sidelines of the G7 Summit scheduled to be held in Évian-les-Bains, France, from June 15 to 17.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of attempting to pressure India over its ties with Russia but said such efforts would not succeed.

According to international news agencies, Putin said, “The US is trying to put pressure on India in some matters, including cooperation with Russia. But everyone has understood that putting pressure on Narendra Modi, who leads the world’s most populous country, is detrimental to international and bilateral relations.”

He described India as a reliable partner and said Russia would continue to strengthen ties with New Delhi. “In 2025, trade turnover between Russia and India reached $68.7 billion. India is already one of Russia’s top trading partners,” he said.

On India-Pakistan relations, Putin said Russia understands the complexities of issues between the two neighbours and noted that Pakistan maintains relations with several countries, not just China.

Commenting on India-China ties, he said, “These are delicate and multifaceted relations, and outside interference is not a good idea. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi are working to resolve issues of mutual interest, including border-related matters.”

Putin also said Russia maintains strong relations with both India and China, adding that neither country views Moscow’s ties with the other as a concern. He recalled that Russia had earlier encouraged dialogue between India and China, which eventually evolved into broader cooperation frameworks such as BRICS.