Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying New Delhi had a “great friend in the White House” for as long as he remained in office. Calling PM Modi a respected leader in their first one-on-one meeting in 16 months, Trump said “everyone loves India” and expressed “tremendous respect” for the Prime Minister.
On the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, India Today’s Pranay Upadhyay asked Trump how he would reassure Indians amid concerns over some of his administration’s decisions. The US President responded, saying that India would continue to enjoy strong support from Washington under his presidency.
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“As long as I am President, they (India) have a great friend in the White House. Everyone here loves India and they have tremendous respect for this (PM Narendra Modi) man,” Trump said.
Trump showered praise on PM Modi, describing him as “a great friend of mine”, a “tough negotiator” and a leader deeply committed to the Indian people. He said he looked forward to visiting India in the future.
Praising PM Modi’s negotiating skills, Trump said the Prime Minister’s calm demeanour often masked his firmness at the negotiating table.
“People say he’s such a nice man. I say he’s very tough. He’s a tough trader, and he loves the Indian people,” Trump remarked, adding that PM Modi was among the most effective negotiators he had dealt with.
The US President also highlighted growing economic engagement between the two countries, noting that Indian investments were creating jobs in the US.
“The Prime Minister is building a lot in the United States. He’s spending a lot of money in the United States, so we appreciate that,” Trump said.
Underscoring the strategic partnership between the two countries, Trump reiterated that Washington would stand by India in the event of an attack.
“I think it is a great relationship. If India were attacked, we would be there to help them. If anybody attacks that man, we are going to be there. If they are attacked and he is the leader, we are going to be there to help,” he said.
Trump also said the two sides had held productive discussions on trade and other areas of cooperation.
“We had some very good conversations with PM Modi. We’re doing trade deals. A lot of things are happening between the United States and India,” he said.
Reaffirming his personal rapport with the Prime Minister, Trump added, “He’s been my friend for a long time now and we’ve always had a great relationship.”
During the meeting, PM Modi praised Trump’s efforts to advance peace in West Asia.
He also raised concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers, stressing the importance of protecting maritime workers amid ongoing tensions in the region.
“We have always said that freedom of navigation should be ensured. Lakhs of Indian seafarers are working across the world’s seas in maritime trade. Their security is equally important,” PM Modi said, expressing hope that the safety of seafarers would be prioritised in any future understanding involving Iran.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
