London: US President Donald Trump, who is on a state visit to the UK, on Thursday reaffirmed ties with New Delhi and said he is very close to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Trump, who made the comment during a press briefing after a bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, also referred to the call he made to Modi on the eve of his 75th birthday.
“I’m very close to India. I’m very close to prime minister of India. I spoke to him the other day… Wished him a happy birthday. We have a very good relationship. He put out a beautiful statement too,” Trump said in London.
Trump’s friendly remarks are a further hint of a thaw in Indo-US relations following weeks of tariff tension, with trade talks between the two countries resuming recently.
Trump and his aides slammed India repeatedly in recent weeks over continued purchase of Russian oil.
On Thursday, Trump criticised European nations for continuing to purchase oil from Russia, arguing that such actions undermine efforts to isolate Moscow amid ongoing conflicts.
“Found out that the European nations were buying oil from Russia,” Trump said. “But I said, you know, I sanctioned them. China is paying a very large tariff right now to the United States, but I’m willing to do other things – but not when the people that I’m fighting for are buying oil from Russia. If the oil price comes down, very simply, Russia will settle. And the oil price is way down.”
