NEW DELHI– Political leaders across party lines on Friday welcomed the recent telephone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump, describing it as a positive signal for strengthening bilateral ties and advancing the India-U.S. strategic partnership.
The two leaders discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments during the call, with lawmakers highlighting the importance of continued engagement, particularly on trade and economic cooperation.
BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi said the interaction reflected the strong friendship between the two countries despite recent concerns over tariffs and trade issues. “Both countries are friends. It is true that through tariffs and other issues, certain misconceptions were spread. If a good trade deal is reached between the two nations, everyone will benefit. It will help our economy and also reduce inflation. It’s a good sign,” he said.
BJP MP Rajkumar Chahar emphasized that Prime Minister Modi’s decisions are guided by national interest. “Any decision taken in the interest of India and its 140 crore citizens is made by the country’s elected Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Whether it involves talks with Trump or Putin, or relations with any other nation, PM Modi always takes decisions that are in India’s best interest,” he said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described the continued dialogue between New Delhi and Washington as encouraging, while also flagging trade concerns. “It is encouraging that the U.S. and India, two major democracies, continue to strengthen their engagement. It is essential for both countries to finalise a trade agreement. The tariffs imposed by the U.S. are concerning, even though the heads of the two countries share a strong rapport. I hope that continued dialogue will lead to a solution soon, and that the pending trade agreement will be implemented at the earliest,” she said.
TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu noted that closer engagement must be based on mutual respect and balanced benefits. “If we want to talk about mutual appreciation, we must first prioritise our self-respect and national aspirations. It is evident that the U.S. wants to strengthen its engagement with India because India is a huge and growing market. We are growing at 8.2 per cent — the figures released a few weeks ago make that clear,” he said. He added that cooperation between the two economies is mutually beneficial but should be conducted on equal terms.
During the conversation on Thursday, Prime Minister Modi and President Trump underlined the need to sustain momentum in efforts to boost bilateral trade and economic ties.
“Had a very warm and engaging conversation with President Trump. We reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations and discussed regional and international developments. India and the U.S. will continue to work together for global peace, stability and prosperity,” Modi said in a post on X following the call.
The two leaders reviewed progress under the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and expressed satisfaction over the steady strengthening of cooperation across sectors. They also exchanged views on expanding collaboration in critical technologies, energy, defense and security, and other priority areas linked to the India-U.S. COMPACT initiative for the 21st century.
The leaders agreed to continue working closely on regional and global challenges, with a shared focus on advancing common interests and reinforcing long-term strategic cooperation. (Source: IANS)
