The ties between India and the United States have gone through a difficult phase in recent months. Relations worsened after former US President Donald Trump began what many observers called an unnecessary tariff war against India. His advisers also launched repeated attacks on New Delhi, often using harsh words aimed directly at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

However, signs now suggest that Trump has realised that openly fighting with India is not in America’s long-term interest, particularly after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit brought global attention to India’s role in balancing powers like Russia and China.

On Tuesday (US local time), Trump appeared to soften his approach. He announced that Washington and New Delhi would restart talks to resolve trade issues. Using his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump posted a message that was seen as an olive branch to India. He wrote:

“I am pleased to announce that India and the United States of America are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations. I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks. I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!”

Prime Minister Modi quickly acknowledged Trump’s remarks and responded in a warm and confident tone. He highlighted the deep friendship between the two nations and stressed the potential of cooperation. Sharing his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), Modi wrote:

“India and the US are close friends and natural partners. I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership. Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest. I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump. We will work together to secure a brighter, more prosperous future for both our people.”

To underline this exchange, Modi attached a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post. Interestingly, Trump later posted a screenshot of Modi’s reply on his own platform, making it clear that both leaders wanted to present a picture of cooperation after months of open disagreements.

This turnaround in tone comes just weeks after the United States slapped a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods and an additional 25 per cent penalty on Indian purchases of Russian oil. These harsh trade measures had caused deep anger in New Delhi and led many analysts to say that India-US relations had entered one of their most fragile stages in recent years.

Earlier this week, Trump spoke at the White House and once again called the India-US partnership a “very special relationship”. He reassured that he and Modi would always remain friends and insisted there was “nothing to worry about.” Yet, he added a critical note, saying he was “not liking what PM Modi is currently doing.” This blend of reassurance and criticism reflected the ongoing tension, where both countries see value in partnership but continue to disagree on issues of trade and foreign policy.

The rift widened when Trump used the phrase “dead economy” to describe India. His advisers, such as Peter Navarro, Scott Bessent, and Howard Lutnick, later fuelled the fire with anti-India, anti-Modi, and even anti-Brahmin remarks, which deeply angered policymakers and the Indian public. Trump’s irritation reportedly came from several decisions by New Delhi: continuing to buy Russian oil despite US pressure, refusing to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize over his claimed role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and rejecting US demands to open India’s dairy and agricultural markets.

Trump’s open hostility drew criticism within the United States itself. Several experts warned that the administration’s approach risked undoing decades of hard work in building bilateral trust. They pointed out that Modi’s presence at the SCO Summit and his candid discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping only highlighted India’s growing global importance. Many American voices even cautioned that Trump’s actions could push India closer to Russia and China.

Only days after he openly declared that “We’ve lost India”, Trump now seems to be trying to repair the damage and “win India back.” The new statements, both from him and Modi, reflect an effort to find common ground and preserve one of the most important global partnerships.