US President Donald Trump recently held a conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, at a time when trade frictions continue to shape relations between Washington and New Delhi. Gor confirmed the discussion through a brief post on social media, urging observers to “stay tuned,” signalling that further developments could follow. His statement came shortly after Trump shared a visual on his Truth Social account featuring Modi alongside himself on the cover of India Today’s “Newsmakers of the Year 2025” edition. The image, which carried the headline “The Mover & The Shaker,” did not include any accompanying message, leaving the nature of their exchange open to interpretation.
Neither the White House nor the Indian government immediately released an official summary of the call, and Trump’s online post offered no additional context beyond the magazine cover. However, the timing of the outreach is widely seen as significant, given ongoing disagreements over trade policies, tariffs, and energy purchases. A major point of contention has been India’s continued import of Russian oil, which had previously prompted the Trump administration to impose steep duties on certain Indian goods, affecting trade worth millions of dollars.
Sergio Gor, who took up his position as US Ambassador to India earlier this year, has played an active role in revitalising diplomatic communication between the two countries. He has frequently underscored the personal rapport between Trump and Modi, describing their relationship as genuine and mutually respectful. In recent remarks, Gor stressed that India remains one of Washington’s most crucial global partners, stating that no other nation is more strategically essential to US interests.
In parallel, officials from both governments have resumed virtual negotiations aimed at finalising a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement. These discussions seek to resolve long-standing commercial disputes while expanding collaboration in areas such as defence technology, digital innovation, and critical mineral supply chains—sectors potentially worth millions of dollars in future investment and trade. Although no formal deal has yet been concluded, both sides have indicated a willingness to keep negotiations moving forward.
Despite existing tensions, diplomats from both countries have framed the overall relationship as resilient and strategically important. Gor has acknowledged that disagreements are inevitable in any major partnership but maintained that US–India ties remain a foundational pillar of both nations’ foreign policy strategies. As talks continue, observers expect further high-level engagement that could shape the economic and geopolitical trajectory of the relationship in the months ahead.
