Donald Trump wishes PM Modi on his birthday, discusses Ukraine peace and trade talks

Donald Trump congratulated PM Modi on his birthday, praised his leadership, and thanked India for supporting a peaceful Ukraine resolution amid growing trade tensions between the US and India.

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, congratulating him on his 75th birthday. During the conversation, Trump praised PM Modi and lauded his leadership. In particular, he thanked PM Modi for India's support in the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

This conversation is considered significant in improving relations between the US and India, especially given the heightened tensions between the two countries over trade tariffs.

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Trump's Message on Social Media

Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, writing, "I just had a wonderful conversation with my friend, Prime Minister Modi. I wished him a very happy birthday and thanked him for his support in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict." Trump praised Modi for his leadership and said he is doing a great job.

PM Modi's Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Trump for his well-wishes. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, "My friend President Trump, thank you for your phone call and warm congratulations on my 75th birthday. We are committed to taking the India-US partnership to new heights, and we support your initiative for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict."

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…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 16, 2025

Tensions Over Tariffs

This phone call between Trump and Modi is being seen as a positive step amid growing trade tensions between India and the US. The US had imposed a 50% tariff on India, which had caused some bitterness in relations between the two countries. Furthermore, India had opposed US pressure on the purchase of crude oil from Russia, which had deepened trade differences between India and the US.

India's Response

India protested the US tariffs, calling them "unfair and unreasonable." India stated that its purchase of crude oil from Russia is based on its national energy needs and market conditions, and not for any political reasons. Despite this, India continues to strive to improve its trade relations with the United States.

Round of Talks in New Delhi

A few days after this conversation, India and the United States held a new meeting regarding the bilateral trade agreement. On September 16, Indian and American trade representatives met to discuss the next phase of the trade talks. The purpose of this meeting was to strengthen the trade relationship between the two countries and build mutual understanding.

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Statement from the US Embassy

A spokesperson for the US Embassy in India stated that during this meeting, the two countries discussed the next steps in the trade talks. US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch met with Rajesh Aggarwal, Special Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Commerce. This meeting indicates that work is underway to improve trade relations between the two countries.

The phone call between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump and the subsequent round of trade talks can be seen as a positive step in India-US relations. Although differences between the two countries continue over trade tariffs and other issues, this effort by both sides demonstrates their willingness to improve relations.