Gyeongju, South Korea | October 29, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Washington is “soon going to do a trade deal” with India, while praising his close ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “strong leader” and a “great friend.”
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Speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in South Korea, Trump expressed optimism about the ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations.
“I’m doing a trade deal with India soon, and I have great respect and love for Prime Minister Modi. We have a great relationship,” Trump said while addressing business leaders at a luncheon event in Gyeongju.
The U.S. President, known for his informal style, added humorously, “Prime Minister Modi is the nicest-looking guy. He looks like he could be your father—but he’s a killer; his stuff is tough, and we’ll fight!”
‘Averted War’ Between India and Pakistan
During his address, Trump also claimed that his administration had previously helped prevent an escalation between India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed neighbours, through diplomatic pressure.
“We stopped a war between India and Pakistan once — not many people know that. We pushed them hard on trade and peace, and they listened,” he said, without elaborating further.
Trade Talks Amid Tariff Tensions
Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing trade discussions between New Delhi and Washington, following a period of friction over U.S. import tariffs on Indian goods.
The Trump administration in August imposed duties of up to 50 percent on select Indian exports, citing “unfair trade practices” and India’s continued oil imports from Russia despite U.S. sanctions pressure.
New Delhi has maintained that its energy purchases are guided by national interest and market considerations, not external influence. Indian officials have repeatedly stressed that securing affordable energy for its citizens remains a sovereign economic priority.
Strengthening Strategic Ties
Despite trade frictions, bilateral relations between India and the United States have deepened significantly in recent years — particularly in areas of defence cooperation, critical technology, and energy security. The proposed trade deal is expected to address tariff barriers, facilitate market access, and strengthen the economic dimension of the broader India–U.S. strategic partnership.
Trump arrived in South Korea on Wednesday ahead of high-level meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC Summit, which convenes leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region.
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