Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone Thursday, their first contact in about two months, to review the India‑US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and discuss expanding cooperation on trade, critical technologies, energy, defence and security. The call took place less than a week after India hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin for a leaders’ summit on December 4–5. Modi described the conversation on X as “very warm and engaging,” saying they reviewed bilateral progress as well as regional and international developments and reaffirmed a shared commitment to work together for global peace, stability and prosperity. Both leaders expressed satisfaction at steadily strengthening cooperation across multiple domains and agreed to coordinate on common challenges and interests. The telephone call coincided with a US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee hearing where lawmakers criticized aspects of the administration’s policy toward India, including the imposition of 25% tariffs on Indian goods in August 2025 and subsequent punitive levies tied to purchases of Russian crude; a widely circulated image of Modi with Putin was also discussed during the session. Modi and Trump emphasized the need to sustain momentum on enhancing bilateral trade. A US trade delegation met in New Delhi December 10–12 to push toward finalizing a bilateral trade agreement first discussed during Modi’s Washington visit in February; the two sides had earlier aimed to conclude talks by September. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met US Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer to discuss the economic and technology partnership, ongoing negotiations and ways to boost two‑way trade and resilient supply chains. Indian officials said they hope the first tranche of the agreement will be finalized within the next few months.
