Trump Hints at Possible India Visit, Praises PM Modi as 'Great Friend'

Washington D.C. – United States President Donald Trump has indicated he may visit India next year at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing Modi as "a great friend" and "a great man". Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Trump responded to a question about a potential trip to India by saying, "It could be, yeah".

Trump's remarks come as the two nations continue discussions on trade and potentially ahead of the next Quad summit, which India is slated to host. The dates for the summit, which will include leaders from Australia, Japan, and the United States, are yet to be announced. India was initially expected to host the Quad summit this month, but those plans were reportedly adjusted due to ongoing trade negotiations between India and the U.S..

"He's a friend of mine, and we speak... He wants me to go there," Trump stated, further adding, "We will figure that out. I will go. I will have a great trip there with Prime Minister Modi, he's a great man. And I'll be going".

While Trump expressed optimism about a potential visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi has so far declined to comment on the matter. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "I do not have anything to share on that at this point. I will let you know when I have something to share".

In addition to discussing a possible visit, Trump also reiterated his claim that India has significantly reduced its oil imports from Russia. "Largely, he stopped buying oil from Russia," Trump said. He also referenced the 25% tariffs his administration imposed on India and an additional 25% levy on Russian oil purchases, resulting in a total duty of 50%. India has previously called these measures "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable," asserting that its energy policy is guided by its own national interests.

Furthermore, Trump repeated a previous assertion that he used tariffs to prevent a war between India and Pakistan. "Of the eight wars I ended, I would say five or six were ended because of tariffs," he claimed.

Despite the outstanding trade issues and the MEA's silence, the possibility of a Trump visit to India underscores the ongoing dialogue and relationship between the two countries. Earlier in the week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed the President's positive view of the India-US relationship, noting that Trump had spoken directly with Prime Minister Modi during Diwali celebrations at the White House.