President Trump dials Modi

Washington, January 24 

US President Donald Trump tonight spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone, the White House said, four days after he was sworn in as the 45th President of America.

President Trump had a telephonic conversation with PM Modi, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said.

Modi is the fifth foreign leader Trump has spoken with over the phone after being sworn in as the US President on January 20.

On January 21, Trump spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican Premier Pena Nieto. On Sunday, Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and yesterday he had a telephonic conversation with the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. After Trump surprised the world with his historic victory in the November 8 elections, Modi was among the first five world leaders to have congratulated Trump.

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

At a charity event on October 15, Trump, as the then Republican presidential nominee, had praised India’s increasing growth rate and Modi’s bureaucratic and economic reforms. — PTI