G20 Summit: 'Our countries have never been closer', Trump on US-India ties
Story highlights
Trump also congratulated Modi on election victory and said Modi deserved it.
''We have become great friends and our countries have never been closer. I can say that with surety,'' said US President Donald Trump during his bilateral talks with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan.
''We have become great friends and our countries have never been closer. I can say that with surety. We'll work together in many ways including military, we'll be discussing trade today,'' Trump told PM Modi during talks.
Modi and Trump discussed various bilateral and global issues including Iran, 5G communications networks, trade and defence ahead of the G-20 Summit.
PM @narendramodi and @POTUS held talks on the sidelines of the #G20 Summit in Osaka.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 28, 2019
Both leaders discussed various bilateral and global issues. @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/XXpFzOLKsZ
Trump congratulated Modi on his election victory and said that the two countries would work together in many areas including military.
"It was a big victory, you deserve it, you have done a great job. We have big things to announce. In terms of trade, in terms of manufacturing, we would be discussing 5G. I congratulate you and I look forward to talks," Trump said.
"We have become great friends and our countries have never been closer. I can say that with surety. We will work together in many ways including military, we'll be discussing trade today," he said.
On Iran, Trump said: "We have a lot of time. There's no rush, they can take their time. There is absolutely no time pressure".
"PM @narendramodi and @POTUS held talks on the sidelines of the #G20 Summit in Osaka. Both leaders discussed various bilateral and global issues," the Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet.
#WATCH US President Donald Trump at bilateral meeting with PM Narendra Modi in Osaka, Japan: We have become great friends & our countries have never been closer. I can say that with surety. We'll work together in many ways including military, we'll be discussing trade today pic.twitter.com/SjvenXi4df
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2019
Watch: What to expect from G20 summit? a discussion
The Modi-Trump meeting assumes significance as the US president, championing his 'America First' policy, has been a vocal critic of India for levying "tremendously high" duties on US products.
Before his arrival in Japan on Thursday, Trump tweeted, "I look forward to speaking with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi about the fact that India, for years having put very high Tariffs against the United States, just recently increased the Tariffs even further. This is unacceptable and the Tariffs must be withdrawn!"
This was Modi's first meeting with Trump after the BJP's landslide win in the parliamentary election.