New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Thursday, holding what officials described as a “very warm conversation” that revisited the progress of the India–US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Both leaders conveyed satisfaction at how the relationship has broadened in recent years and agreed that the momentum must not be allowed to slip, especially on trade.

A warm call amid a tense global backdrop

According to officials, the call came at a time when the two countries are still trying to close gaps on a trade agreement that has been stuck over issues such as market access, tariffs and India’s purchases of Russian oil. A US trade delegation was in New Delhi on 10–11 December, but discussions made “little headway,” with s

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