In a social media message, PM Modi said, “As you [President-elect Donald Trump] build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of the Indian National Congress were among the first to congratulate President-elect Donald Trump after the results of the U.S. presidential elections were announced.
“Heartiest congratulations my friend Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity,” PM Modi said in a social media message on Wednesday.
Mr. Modi also congratulated Mr. Trump in a telephonic conversation. Government sources said both the leaders promised to work together for world peace. Mr. Trump said he considers Mr. Modi a true friend, the sources added.
PM Modi had met Mr. Trump during the latter’s first tenure as the US president (2017-’20) on multiple occasions including in September 2019 when the PM had attended the ‘Howdy Modi!’ event in Houston that was addressed by President Trump too. President Trump also paid a reciprocatory visit to India in February 2020 just before COVID-19 pandemic peaked in India. He was hosted in Gandhinagar, where a special public event was organised by the Government of India.
At a campaign event in September, Mr. Trump had said that he was likely to meet PM Modi during the campaign season for the presidential election in the month when PM Modi travelled to the U.S. to participate in a Quad summit meeting with President Biden, then Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and Australian PM Anthony Albanese. The Indian side had however said that such a meeting had not been planned during the PM’s visit. However, Prime Minister Modi’s social media message of Wednesday used a photograph from the Houston rally to portray the warmth of the relationship between himself and Mr. Trump.
Union Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar, who is on a visit to Australia, had earlier commented that irrespective of the winner of the presidential race, the relationship between the two countries would continue to be warm. “It’s important to look at the U.S. more nationally than purely in terms of the ideology of the administration of the day,” said Mr. Jaishankar while addressing an event in Canberra elaborating on the recent trends of protectionism in the U.S. foreign policy.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi congratulated Mr. Trump and said, “Wishing you success in your second term as US President.” He also greeted the Democrats candidate Kamala Harris and said, “All the best to @KamalaHarris in her future endeavours.” Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge too congratulated the President-elect and said, “India and the United States share a robust comprehensive global strategic partnership, underpinned by long-standing shared democratic values, aligned interests, and extensive people-to-people connections. We look forward to working closely with the United States for global peace and prosperity.”
Comments
Post a Comment