India, US trade deal talks on course; Modi, Trump announce on social media, US officials continue tirade against New Delhi

New Delhi: The negotiation for a trade deal between New Delhi and Washington, DC, is on course, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, continuing their recently renewed bonhomie on social media, even as some of the United States president’s aides continued to criticise India for buying oil from Russia.

Modi and Trump wrote on social media platforms that they were looking forward to speaking with each other. They also stated that the officials from the two governments were working to conclude negotiations for a trade deal soon.

Trump’s aides, like his senior counsellor for trade and manufacturing, Peter Navarro, and the US envoy to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, however, continued to slam India for continuing to buy oil from Russia and thus helping the former Soviet Union nation go on with its “special military operations” in Ukraine. The US president, himself, also purportedly asked the European Union leaders to slap tariffs on India and China to step up pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

“I am pleased to announce that India and the United States of America are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations. I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks,” Trump posted on Truth Social early on Wednesday. “I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!”

Modi replied within a few hours. “India and the US are close friends and natural partners. I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership. Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest,” the prime minister posted on X. “I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump. We will work together to secure a brighter, more prosperous future for both our people.”

This was the second exchange of positive vibes between the two leaders after the bilateral relations came under stress after the US last month hit India with a 50% tariff, including a 25% for buying oil from Russia. The two sides had taken the first steps towards a reset in ties on September 6, when Trump had told journalists in White House that Modi had been a great prime minister with whom he would always be friends. Trump had also acknowledged the “very special relationship” between the two nations.

His comment had signalled a course correction after he and his aides had slammed New Delhi for weeks, not only over India’s high tariff on exports from the US, but also over the South Asian nation’s dependence on Russia for military hardware and its continued purchase of crude oil from the former Soviet Union nation in defiance of the sanctions imposed by the West in response to President Vladimir Putin’s military offensive against Ukraine. Modi had also quickly reciprocated by lauding Trump for acknowledging the “special relations” between India and the US.

The latest public display of Modi and Trump on social media on Wednesday came a day after New Delhi’s envoy to Washington, D.C., had “a productive meeting” with the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison M Hooker, and both sides reaffirmed commitment to the “forward-looking” bilateral ties.

Trump’s aide Navarro, however, continued his tirade, although some of his comments against India were debunked by the X. “India’s keyboard minions are hijacking X’s Community Notes to bury the facts. They’re furious about losing unfettered access to US markets – even as India, the Maharaja of Tariffs, keeps some of the world’s highest trade barriers,” he wrote on X early on Wednesday. “The US doesn’t need unfair trade with India. But India desperately needs access to U.S. markets and schools and intends to continue taking US jobs.”

Whitaker alleged that Moscow's military operations in Ukraine were being funded through Russian oil sales to countries including India, China, and Brazil.

Trump, himself, also reportedly asked the EU to join the US in slapping tariffs up to 100% on India and China to make Russia end its war in Ukraine. He purportedly pointed out that India and China were the two biggest markets for crude oil from Russia, according to Reuters.