PM Modi dials Donald Trump, both to work for global peace

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President-elect Donald Trump had a conversation on phone on Wednesday as the PM congratulated the Republican leader for his spectacular win.

Trump told PM Modi that he considered him and India a true friend of the US, and that Modi was one of the first world leaders he spoke to after his victory. Both leaders affirmed to work together for global peace. Official sources citing the conversation said Trump spoke of the “whole world loving PM Modi, and that India was a magnificent country and PM Modi a magnificent man”.

Open to constructive dialogue, says Russia

President Vladimir Putin remains open to a constructive dialogue... the future of relations depends on the American administration. — Kremlin

China’s guarded view

The presidential election of the US is its internal affair. We respect the choice of the American people. — Chinese Foreign Ministry

Prior to the conversation, PM Modi invoked his past relations with his “dear friend” Trump and posted on X a bunch of pictures along with a congratulatory message. The ties between the two date back to 2017 and have since been marked by strong diplomatic and strategic cooperation. “Heartiest congratulations my friend Donald Trump on your historic election victory,” wrote PM Modi as he posted pictures showing the two leaders hugging each other. The PM also expressed eagerness to strengthen the India-US global and strategic partnership, promoting global peace, stability and prosperity.

In February 2020, the PM and Trump had met in Ahmedabad at an event that resembled an election rally for the American leader. The aim was to connect with the influential Indian community, particularly the Gujaratis, who form a crucial demographic in the US elections. Modi’s presence lent significant weight to Trump’s campaign as he tried to woo the Indian-American voters. Six months prior to the event, PM Modi and Trump had shared the stage at the “Howdy Modi” rally in Houston, Texas, in September 2019 where the PM cheered for Trump, “Abki baar, Trump sarkar”. The visit happened only a month after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in August. Trump did not win the November 2020 election, losing to Joe Biden, but he did not go into oblivion.

At that rally in Houston, Trump sat in the front row while Modi told the cheering crowd his decision to remove all autonomy from J&K. Trump lavished praise on Modi saying, “I’m so thrilled to be here in Texas with one of America’s greatest, most devoted and most loyal friends, Prime Minister Modi of India”.

PM Modi, in turn, called Trump a “true friend” and described him as “warm, friendly, accessible, energetic and full of wit”. When Trump was out of office, he never lost touch with Modi and in his race to the presidency this year, he praised Modi and always referred to him as a “good friend”.

The first official meeting between PM Modi and Trump took place in Washington DC in 2017 where the two hugged each other in front of the media. Modi was also the first foreign dignitary to have dinner at the White House with Trump.