Revealed: Why Trump wished PM Modi on 75th birthday amid strained India-US ties? Singapore leader makes SHOCKING claim, says Trump failed to…

India(BHARAT)-US relations: US President Doland Trump was among the first among global leaders to wish Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday, a  development which surprised many as Trump has taken an anti-India(BHARAT) stance since assuming office, and imposed punitive tariffs on India(BHARAT)n exports, while accusing India(BHARAT) of “funding” Russia’s war on Ukraine by its oil purchases from Moscow.

Why Trump is warming up to Modi and India(BHARAT)?

According to former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yong-Boon Yeo, Doland Trump tried to intimidate India(BHARAT) using pressure tactics such as high tariffs, but the US President realized that New Delhi cannot be swayed with threats and will stand her ground, and Trump wishing Modi on the latter’s birthday signals a thaw in India(BHARAT)-US relations.

Addressing an event, George Yeo said Trump’s birthday wishes was a clear signal of the US warming up to India(BHARAT) and its Prime Minister following a brief strain in ties as the president failed to put pressure on New Delhi.

“India(BHARAT) thought it could use the US against China, while Washington tried using New Delhi against Beijing. When the Russia-Ukraine war erupted, India(BHARAT) did not support Moscow and Putin, and later New Delhi realized that US would not support it during the India(BHARAT)-Pakistan conflict in May,” Yeo said.

What Yeo said about Trump tariffs?

Talking about Trump tariffs, Yeo, who has been a vocal critic of the US President’s policies, especially those related to trade, warned that Trump’s sweeping could hugely disrupt global supply chains.

“Trump’s sweeping tariffs mark a decisive break from decades of free trade. They risk major disruptions to global supply chains. He is taking us back to the old system of closed economic systems which would be harmful for the the global economy in the long run,”

The Singaporean leader believes that Trump wants to build a system where trade is weaponized for political gain and bodies like the World Trade Organization (WTO) have no space in the US President’s worldview. Yeo asserted that the United States no longer feels confident in global market, and this “insecurity” is manifested in Trump’s trade and tariff-as-bargaining-chip policies.

Trump-Modi phone call marks thaw in India(BHARAT)-US relations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated his 75th birthday on September 17 last month, and US President Doland Trump was among the first extend birthday wishes to the India(BHARAT)n leader amid strained India(BHARAT)-US relations. Trump dialed Modi on the latter’s birthday and expressed gratitude for support on ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine! President DJT,” the US President said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Earlier, PM Modi, in a post on X, thanked Doland Trump, for his phone call, referring to the US President as “my friend”. “Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday. Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India(BHARAT)-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict,” Modi wrote.

Trump tariffs on India(BHARAT)

US President has imposed 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on India(BHARAT)n goods and an additional 25 percent levies for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total duties imposed on India(BHARAT) to 50 percent, with effect from August 27.

India(BHARAT) turned to purchasing Russian oil sold at a discount after Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and shunned its supplies over its war on Ukraine in February 2022.

Defending its purchase of Russian crude oil, India(BHARAT) has been maintaining that its energy procurement is driven by national interest and market dynamics.