Trump extends birthday call to PM Modi, signals thaw in India-US ties amid Ukraine diplomacy

On the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, US President Donald Trump dialed a dramatic reset in India-US relations, setting aside weeks of trade spats and public rebukes to offer warm greetings and praise for New Delhi’s support in pursuing peace in Ukraine.

The phone call, the first between the two leaders since June 17, marked a striking turnaround. Just weeks ago, Washington had imposed a punishing 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, blaming New Delhi’s continued Russian oil imports for prolonging the war in Ukraine. The move had cooled bilateral ties, stalled trade negotiations, and heightened diplomatic tensions.

Trump, however, chose celebration over confrontation. On September 16, he personally called PM Modi, offering birthday wishes and publicly acknowledging India’s role in promoting peace. “Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the war between Russia and Ukraine!” he posted on Truth Social.

Modi, maintaining his characteristic measured tone, reciprocated via X: “Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday. Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.”

The exchange underscored a rapid shift in diplomatic dynamics. Earlier this month, Trump softened his rhetoric, calling the India-US bond “special,” while Modi described the US as a “close friend and natural partner.” Tuesday’s call signaled that rhetoric was giving way to action.

In parallel, the two nations resumed face-to-face trade talks in New Delhi, the first since Washington’s punitive tariffs. The day-long session, lasting nearly seven hours, brought senior officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative, led by Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch, together with India’s Commerce Department, headed by Special Secretary Rajesh Agarwal.

Both governments described the discussions as “positive and forward-looking,” aimed at laying the groundwork for a mutually beneficial trade agreement. While not a formal continuation of the stalled sixth round of negotiations, the talks carried unmistakable symbolic weight, signaling renewed willingness on both sides to overcome recent friction.

For India, the call and the talks reaffirmed its stand: refusal to yield to US pressure on sensitive sectors, including dairy and agriculture, while still engaging in constructive dialogue. For the US, Trump’s pivot from punitive rhetoric to public praise of PM Modi reflected a strategic recalibration as Washington seeks to secure India’s support in global diplomacy, particularly on Ukraine.

As both sides navigate the complexities of trade, energy, and geopolitics, recent events offered the first glimmer of reconciliation—a chance to move beyond confrontation toward a “comprehensive, balanced, and forward-looking” partnership capable of withstanding disagreements.