'India-US natural partners', says PM Modi amid Trump remark

India and the US are natural partners and teams from both sides are working to conclude negotiations on a bilateral trade deal Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday in response to US President Donald Trumps remarks that efforts are on to address trade barriers between the two countriesThe exchange between the two leaders on social media is largely seen as part of efforts by both New Delhi and Washington to reset their ties that witnessed increasing stress in the last few weeks after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goodsThe US president said he was looking forward to speaking to Modi in the upcoming weeks and sounded confident that both sides would be able to seal the proposed trade dealIndia 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 IndiaUS partnership Modi said on XOur teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest 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 he saidIn a post on Truth Social on Tuesday Trump said he was pleased to announce that India and the US are continuing negotiations to address the trade barriersI look forward to speaking with my very good friend Prime Minister Modi in the upcoming weeks I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries he saidTrump also reposted Modis comments on Truth SocialIn a related development following the exchanges between Modi and Trump the Financial Times reported that the US president has asked the European Union EU to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on China and India for their procurement of Russian crude oil There is no official comment on the report by the Trump administration or the European sideThere have been indications that both sides have a series of diplomatic engagements in the next few days including a visit by a highlevel US delegation to India to negotiate final contours of an order from the Indian Navy to procure an additional batch of P8I longrange multimission maritime patrol aircraft The latest ModiTrump exchanges were their second in last four daysOn September 6 Modi deeply appreciated Trumps positive assessment of IndiaUS partnership after the American leader hailed the special relationship between the two nations and said there is nothing to worry aboutThe relations between New Delhi and Washington are on a major downturn after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50 per cent including a 25 per cent additional duties for Indias purchase of Russian crude oil India described the US action as unfair unjustified and unreasonableIn the last few days several Trump administration officials including White House trade advisor Peter Navarro have used offensive language to target IndiaIndias big oil lobby has turned the largest democracy in the world into a massive refining hub and oil money laundromat for the Kremlin Navarro said recentlyOn Tuesday also Navarro targeted India in a series of social media postsThe US doesnt need unfair trade with India But India desperately needs access to US markets and schools and intends to continue taking US jobs he saidThe Trump administration official also repeated his previous allegations that India is fueling Russias war machineryIndia fuels Russias war chest India is protectionist with skyhigh tariffs The US runs a massive trade deficit with India he said Navarro also claimed that Indias skyhigh tariffs are costing the US its jobs India buys Russian oil purely to profit Those revenues fuel Putins war machine he allegedDefending its purchase of Russian crude oil India has been maintaining that its energy procurement is driven by national interest and market dynamicsIndia turned to purchasing Russian oil sold at a discount after Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and shunned its supplies over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022Consequently from a mere 17 per cent share in total oil imports in 201920 Russias share increased to 351 per cent in 202425 and it is now the biggest oil supplier to India