New Delhi, May 25
US President Donald Trump has described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great friend” and said India could count on the United States “100%”, during a celebration marking 250 years of American independence in New Delhi. Speaking by phone at the event held at Bharat Mandapam on Sunday evening, Trump said he was a “big fan” of Modi and stressed that ties between Washington and New Delhi had never been stronger.
“If India ever needs help, they know where to call,” he told the audience through a phone held up by US Ambassador Sergio Gor. The event was attended by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior diplomats from both countries.
In his address, Rubio called India a key strategic partner of the United States, while Jaishankar highlighted the shared democratic values linking the two nations. He said growing cooperation in technology, trade and security had helped both countries move beyond the “hesitations of history”.
Jaishankar also pointed to the role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening political and cultural ties between the two countries.
The evening featured a musical performance by Indian composer and singer A. R. Rahman, who performed songs including Maa Tujhe Salaam and Dil Se. American disco group Village People closed the celebrations with a live performance.
Trump also used the occasion to praise the US economy and described Rubio as “the greatest secretary of state in the history of the US”.
