India 'true friend'; President Trump, PM Modi extend invites to each other

Describing India as a "true friend" of the US, President Donald Trump invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the country later this year, the White House said on Tuesday night after both leaders spoke over phone and discussed issues such as trade, defence and terrorism.

"During a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Trump emphasised that the US considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world," the White House said in a readout of the call.

"President Trump looked forward to hosting Prime Minister Modi in the US later this year," the White House said.

Meanwhile, Modi also took to Twitter and said he had a warm conversation with President Trump. "President Trump and I agreed to work closely in the coming days to further strengthen our bilateral ties. Have also invited President Trump to visit India," Modi tweeted.

President @realDonaldTrump and I agreed to work closely in the coming days to further strengthen our bilateral ties.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2017

The two leaders discussed opportunities to strengthen the partnership between the US and India in broad areas such as the economy and defence.

Besides this, they also discussed security in the region of South and Central Asia. President Trump and Prime Minister Modi resolved that the US and India stand shoulder to shoulder in the global fight against terrorism, the readout said.

After Trump surprised the world with his historic victory in the November 8 general elections, Modi was among the first five world leaders to have congratulated Trump.

During his gruelling election campaign, India is among the few countries in addition to Israel with whom Trump spoke of strengthening ties if elected to power.

"Under a Trump Administration, we are going to become even better friends, in fact I would take the term better out and we would be best friends," Trump, had said to a cheering crowd of Indian-Americans at a charity event organised by the Republican Hindu Coalition.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump's 'Buy American-hire American' rallying cry has put the $150- billion Indian IT industry on edge, which is in a wait-and-watch mode to see how the new administration evolves policies around outsourcing and movement of skilled workers.

(With PTI inputs)