Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with his French counterpart on Saturday — “reviewing bilateral cooperation in various areas”. The two leaders also discussed several international issues, including ongoing efforts to ensure an early end to the Ukraine conflict. The interaction came mere hours after President Donald Trump appeared to extend an olive branch to Modi and insisted that India-US relations remained “very special”.
What was discussed?
“Had a very good conversation with President Macron. We reviewed and positively assessed the progress in bilateral cooperation in various areas. Exchanged views on international and regional issues, including efforts for bringing an early end to the conflict in Ukraine. The India-France Strategic Partnership will continue to play a key role in fostering global peace and stability,” Modi wrote on X.
“I just spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I presented him the outcome of the work we carried out with President Zelensky and our partners of the Coalition of the Willing last Thursday in Paris. India and France share the same determination to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Building on our friendship and our strategic partnership, we will continue moving forward together to trace this path toward peace,” Macron added.
Modi also thanked Macron for accepting the invitation to the AI Impact Summit to be hosted by India in February and that he looked forward to welcoming the French president. It said the two leaders reviewed and positively assessed the developments in bilateral cooperation across different sectors including economic, defence, science, technology and space.
Modi-Trump ties improving?
The interaction came hours after Trump appeared to extend an olive branch to Modi amid a steadily widening rift in US-India ties. The POTUS had insisted while making an announcement on Friday morning that the two countries shared a “very special relationship”. Trump also affirmed that he would always remain friends with PM Modi — asserting that there is “nothing to worry about”. The US President also expressed displeasure over what “he (PM Modi) is doing” in contemporary times. Trump also appeared to backtrack on earlier assertions that India and Russia had been “lost” to China — saying that he does not think that has happened.
“I always will (be ready to reset ties). I’ll always be friends with Modi. He’s a great Prime Minister. I’ll always be friends, but I just don’t like what he is doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a very special relationship. There is nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion…I’ve been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia. I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India – 50%, a very high tariff. I get along very well with Modi, as you know. He was here a couple of months ago; in fact, we went to the Rose Garden and had a press conference,” Trump told ANI.
“Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of our ties. India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership,” Modi wrote on X after the quote was published.