Trump calls Modi?a 'great friend', says Indian PM is a much tougher negotiator, agrees to sell oil, F-35 fighter jets
While insisting that the US will impose reciprocal tariffs on India, Donald Trump said, "Whatever India charges, we charge them. So, frankly, it no longer matters to us that much what they charge." The two sides agreed to bring down the trade deficit and increase bilateral trade to more than double.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ¡°a great friend of mine." Trump, who welcomed the Indian PM at the White House, said he shares a "special bond" with Modi but warned that India won't be spared from higher tariffs he's begun imposing on countries around the world.
CREDIT: PMO
Modi-Trump renew friendship
"We missed you, we missed you a lot," Trump said as he welcomed PM Modi at the Oval Office.
"I am delighted to see you back at the White House," PM Modi told President Trump, who won re-election in November 2024.
Trump also gifted a signed copy of his book 'Our Journey Together' to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
US President Donald Trump gifted PM Narendra Modi the book 'Our Journey Together' when they met at the White House in Washington DC, on 13th February. Showed him several photos from 'Howdy Modi' and 'Namaste Trump' events, which are a part of the book pic.twitter.com/GgRy6C85NH
¡ª ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2025
'Modi is a tough negotiator'
The US President, who has been vocal about his skills as a deal-maker, also went out of his way to compliment PM Modi's ability to negotiate.
"He (PM Narendra Modi) is a much tougher negotiator than me and he is a much better negotiator than me. There is not even a contest," Trump said while addressing the joint press conference.
CREDIT: ANI
MAGA+MIGA= MEGA
PM Modi also drew similarities between Trump's vision to Make America Great Again and his idea of Viksit Bharat.
"The people of America are well aware of President Trump's motto 'MAGA - Make America Great Again.' The people of India too are focusing on heritage and development as they move forward at a fast pace and with a firm resolve towards the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. In the language of America, it's Make India Great Again - MIGA. When America and India work together, this MAGA plus MIGA becomes a 'mega partnership for prosperity' and it is this mega spirit that gives new scale and scope to our objectives," the PM said.
PM Narendra Modi tweets, "President Trump often talks about MAGA. In India, we are working towards a Viksit Bharat, which in the American context translates into MIGA. And together, the India-USA have a MEGA partnership for prosperity." pic.twitter.com/w0o70KrJWI
¡ª ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2025
No tariff exemption for India
While insisting that the US will impose reciprocal tariffs on India, Trump said, "Whatever India charges, we charge them. So, frankly, it no longer matters to us that much what they charge."
Also read: Modi-Trump meeting: US agrees to extradite Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India
CREDIT: ANI
India, US talk business
The two sides agreed to bring down the trade deficit and increase bilateral trade to more than double, reaching USD 500 billion by 2030. India has also agreed to buy more oil, gas and military hardware, including F-35 fighter jets, from the US.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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