The Indian Prime Minister is a friend of mine, and we are going to have a good trade deal, President Donald Trump said.
Davos: Amid hectic diplomatic parleys during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, US President Donald Trump expressed confidence in a “good” trade deal with India and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “fantastic leader" and a "great friend".
Trump made the remarks on the sidelines of his address at the WEF 2026. “I have a great respect for your Prime Minister (Modi). He is a fantastic man and a friend of mine. We are gonna have a good deal,” Donald Trump said in response to a question on the India-US trade deal by an Indian journalist.
The new US Ambassador to New Delhi, Sergio Gor, said earlier this month that President Trump conveyed "his best wishes to his friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
"The friendship between Trump and Modi is real, and the US and India are bound not just by shared interests, but by a relationship anchored at the highest levels. Real friends can disagree, but always resolve their differences in the end," Gor remarked as he took office.
He also stated that while trade is very important for India-US ties, the two countries will continue to work closely together on other very important areas, such as security, counter-terrorism, energy, technology, education, and health. He emphasised that both sides remain in regular contact despite differences over tariffs and market access.
Negotiations are continuing with the US for a bilateral trade deal, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also said. Goyal met US Senator Steve Daines and Gor earlier this week, saying they had a productive exchange of views on the bilateral relationship.
The first tranche of the India-US trade deal is close to being finalized, though no timeline can be committed, according to Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. There was a virtual meeting between India's commerce minister, Piyush Goyal, and the US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer in the last week of December and negotiating teams on both sides are in continuous talks to arrive at a consensus.
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