New Delhi showed ‘remarkable message discipline,’ says leading expert on India-US ties (IANS Exclusive)
Trump Calls Modi on 75th Birthday Amid Warming India-US Ties
US President Donald Trump picked up the phone to wish Prime Minister Narendra Modi a happy 75th birthday, marking their first chat in months. This friendly gesture comes as India and the US work to smooth over recent trade tensions, with experts praising New Delhi’s steady approach in India-US relations.
Milan Vaishnav, a top expert on India-US relations and director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, shared his insights in an exclusive chat with in Washington, DC. He credits India for staying calm and focused. "India has held firm, and the US is now coming back to the negotiating table," Vaishnav said. He highlighted India’s "remarkable message discipline" in avoiding Trump’s provocations, calling it a smart long-term strategy to keep US-India ties strong.
The call happened on Tuesday, and Modi quickly posted on X (formerly Twitter), thanking his "friend" Trump. "Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday," Modi wrote. He added that he’s committed to boosting the India-US Comprehensive Global Partnership and supports Trump’s efforts for peace in Ukraine.
Trump echoed the warmth on Truth Social. "Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine!" the president posted.
This positive vibe aligns with fresh trade talks. US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch met India’s chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal in Delhi, and both sides called the discussions "positive." Vaishnav, who’s also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, sees these as key groundwork for the sixth round of India-US trade negotiations. "These talks were productive in getting things back on track," he noted, pointing to a recent shift in Trump’s rhetoric from tough to more friendly. That change, he says, created space for negotiators after heated words from White House officials like Howard Lutnick and Peter Navarro.
On India’s strategy, Vaishnav doesn’t expect big giveaways in sensitive areas like agriculture or dairy. "These are hot-button issues politically, and India has stuck to its guns in past deals," he explained. Instead, the Modi government might offer small wins to build trust without stirring trouble at home. One idea? Boosting buys of US energy, like crude oil, LNG, and even civilian nuclear power. India has quietly ramped up US oil imports lately, and sources say it’s open to tweaking civil nuclear liability laws.
Vaishnav also addressed the 25% US tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil. He believes India isn’t wedded to Russian crude for ideological reasons. "If the US helps line up new suppliers, India will likely grab the deal and cut back on Russian imports," he said. But India wants to handle this quietly to avoid looking like it’s bending to pressure from the Trump administration.
Some experts link the US’s softer stance to Modi’s recent trip to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. That event featured a high-profile photo with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, sending a clear signal. Congresswoman Deborah Ross called it a "smart move" in an earlier interview, saying it showed Modi has options beyond the US.
Vaishnav agrees. He points to mixed views in the Trump team on handling China—some see India as central to America’s Indo-Pacific strategy against Beijing. "The SCO signaling with Modi, Putin, and Xi clearly hit home in Washington," he said. It might have made the administration realize they’d pushed too hard on India-US trade tensions.
Still, Vaishnav warns not to get too comfortable. "No one knows what tomorrow brings—not even top officials," he cautioned. The White House’s unpredictable style means India-US relations could shift fast, but for now, the birthday call and trade progress offer hope for stronger ties.
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