US President Donald Trump calls India 'true friend' over phone; PM Modi invites him to India, agrees to further strengthen bilateral ties

Following the new US President Donald Trump’s phone call, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that both of them agreed to work closely in the coming days to further strengthen bilateral ties. Prime Minister also said that he had invited President Donald Trump to visit India.

Earlier, describing India as a “true friend” of the US, President Donald Trump also invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the country later this year, the White House said on Tuesday after both leaders spoke over phone and discussed issues such as trade, defence and terrorism.

Trump spoke to Modi on Tuesday night over phone, four days after he was sworn-in as the 45^th President of America.

“During a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Trump emphasised that the US considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world,” the White House said in a readout of the call.

“President Trump looked forward to hosting Prime Minister Modi in the US later this year,” the White House said.

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 two leaders discussed opportunities to strengthen the partnership between the US and India in broad areas such as the economy and defence.

Besides this, they also discussed security in the region of South and Central Asia. President Trump and Prime Minister Modi resolved that the US and India stand shoulder to shoulder in the global fight against terrorism, the readout said.

After Trump surprised the world with his historic victory in the November 8 general elections, Modi was among the first five world leaders to have congratulated Trump.

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During his gruelling election campaign, India is among the few countries in addition to Israel with whom Trump spoke of strengthening ties if elected to power.

On January 21, Trump spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican Premier Pena Nieto.

On Sunday, Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and on Tuesday he had a telephonic conversation with the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.