Modi, Trump Speak on Phone to Boost 'Trusted Partnership'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Monday spoke about working together for global peace and security and measures to advance cooperation in key areas such as technology, trade and defence in their first conversation since the American leader's inauguration last week.

- Rezaul H Laskar

NEW DELHI:

The phone call, initiated by the Indian side, followed external affairs minister S Jaishankar's participation as the Indian government's representative at Trump's inauguration on January 20 and the Quad foreign ministers' meeting in Washington, the Trump administration's first foreign policy engagement.

Modi provided details of the conversation in a post on X, in which he said he congratulated his "dear friend" on his second term in office.

"We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security," Modi said.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a "mutually beneficial and trusted partnership", an Indian readout said. They also discussed aspects of the bilateral comprehensive global strategic partnership and measures to advance it, including in technology, trade, investment, energy and defence, the people said.