Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had his first conversation with the US President Donald Trump, after his inauguration, late Tuesday night. Prime Minister Modi later tweeted that both leaders will be working closely to strengthen bilateral ties.
In a number of tweets, PM Modi on Wednesday said, “Had a warm conversation with US President late last evening. President Trump and I agreed to work closely in the coming days to further strengthen our bilateral ties.” The prime minister also said that he has invited President Trump to India for an official visit.
He copied Donald Trump on the tweets which assures us the conversation was as stated by him. Apparently inconsequential events reveal the differences between the institutional approaches and professionalism between India and Pakistan. Office of Pakistani PM had recently created a ridiculous situation for both sides, by issuing transcript of conversation with Trump, when PM Nawaz called him after his election victory. In this case, after Modi and Trump conversation, White House also released a statement to the same effect.
Had a warm conversation with President @realDonaldTrump late last evening.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2017
President @realDonaldTrump and I agreed to work closely in the coming days to further strengthen our bilateral ties.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2017
Have also invited President Trump to visit India.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2017
The White House statement said that President Trump saw India as a “true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world”. He has extended an invitation to PM Modi for a visit later this year.
both leaders resolved to “stand shoulder to shoulder in the global fight against terrorism”.
The statement released also said the two leaders “discussed opportunities to strengthen the partnership between the US and India in broad areas such as the economy and defence,” They discussed security in South and Central Asia. They did not discuss the H1b visa, about which India is worried that President Trump will be clamping down.
read more:Where does Pakistan fit into Trump’s World?
The US statement added that both leaders resolved to “stand shoulder to shoulder in the global fight against terrorism”.
PM Modi becomes the fifth foreign leader Trump has spoken to since he was sworn in. He has already spoken with the leaders of Egypt, Israel, Canada and Mexico, and plans to host a visit from British Prime Minister Theresa May later this week. It is thought he spoke to the Egyptian President Sissi, to get his thoughts and to rally other Arab countries around the announcement that he would move the US embassy to Jerusalem.
PM Modi was among the first five world leaders who congratulated Trump after won the election in November last year.
read more: Donald Trump copies PM Modi, uses ‘Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar’
Indian media reports point out that President Trump has been very positive about India throughout his campaign rallies. At an Indian-American rally in New Jersey in October, where tens of thousands attended, he had promised that India and US will be “best friends” if he gets elected and described PM Modi as a “great man.” He also said that he is a “big fan of Hindu.”
However concerns of H1B Visas for Indian professionals, US manufacturing in India and outsourcing of American jobs to India – issues raised during electioneering by Trump – are some of the tricky spots which both sides will have to talk about.