Trump shifts tone, says ties with India 'special'

PM Modi reciprocates Trump's 'positive assessment' of ties after the American leader says they would 'always be friends'

- Shashank Mattoo and Rezaul H Laskar

President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "great Prime Minister" and described India-US relations as experiencing a "momentary hiccup" on Friday, saying there was "nothing to worry about" in the bilateral relationship.

The remarks represent a notable shift in tone for Trump, who just one day earlier said that America had "lost" India and Russia to China, while members of his administration separately amped up the rhetoric against New Delhi.

Asked specifically about his social media post referencing losing "India and Russia to deepest, darkest China," Trump replied: "I don't think we have [lost India]. I've been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil...from Russia. And I let them know that."

"I'll always be friends with Modi. He's a great Prime Minister. But I just don't like what he's doing right now. But India and the United States have a very special relationship. There's nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion," Trump told reporters at the White House.

The president added he was open to resetting ties with India after weeks of tension over New Delhi's purchases of Russian energy, which the US cited as grounds to slap 25% punitive tariffs on imports from India taking the total levy to 50%.

Modi responded quickly to Trump's remarks, posting on X within hours of the president's comments in what marked the first positive exchange between the two leaders since they last spoke by telephone on June 17.