Prime Minister Narendra Modi received birthday wishes from US President Donald Trump ahead of his 75th birthday, even as India and the United States grapple with trade tensions. In a message on X, Modi thanked Trump for his greetings and reiterated his commitment to strengthening the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership. He also expressed support for Washington’s initiatives to resolve the Ukraine conflict through peaceful means.

Responding on Truth Social, Trump described his phone call with Modi as “wonderful,” praising the Indian Prime Minister for doing a tremendous job. Trump also thanked Modi for supporting US-led efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. The exchange underscored a personal rapport between the two leaders at a time of challenging trade relations.

Washington recently imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports, including a 50 percent duty on select goods and a 25 percent levy on India’s purchases of Russian oil. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also warned New Delhi that continued refusal to purchase US-grown corn could impact its access to the American market.

Despite these strains, the two countries resumed trade talks on Tuesday, marking their first formal engagement since the tariffs were announced. US officials described the negotiations as “positive,” highlighting both sides’ intent to narrow differences and prevent further downturn in ties. This comes after Trump indicated last week that he was optimistic about addressing “trade barriers” with India and looked forward to speaking with Modi in the coming weeks.

The India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership covers key areas such as defence, energy, technology, and trade. During a bilateral meeting in Washington earlier this year, Modi and Trump set a target of doubling bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, signaling the ambition to deepen cooperation despite periodic disputes.