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Why Can’t We Be Friends?

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Why Can’t We Be Friends?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Trump has reached out to Modi, and the chemistry seems to be crackling between the two leaders, but for the Indian PM, nurturing the new friendship will prove to be a balancing act

By Sujit Bhar

Donald J Trump is not just the 45th President of the United States; he is a billionaire in his own right, a reality TV host and a successful one at that, and he has a family of ardent followers who believe a severely protectionist America would actually be a good thing.

What Trump probably lacks is a set of “friends” across the world. International geopolitics isn’t a reality television show, though often it looks like one. It is a hard world of deals and more deals, each defining a nation’s apparent effort at positioning itself on the world’s stage.  Friends need to back each other up – it is a Bigg Boss thing that Trump should understand – and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi fits firmly in that slot.

So when Trump called Modi ahead of calling Moscow or Beijing or Tokyo, read less of summit politics into it. It’s about a greenhorn president, one who has suddenly become the most powerful politician of the world, seeking an early friend who he can be officially comfortable with. And that friend should also be non-controversial. That’s it.

The problem is whether Modi would be as comfortable with Trump as he was with Barack Obama. Modi has to bring up the China-Pakistan issue, which is a favourite with Trump, but he also has to bring up the H1B visa issue, which, for Trump is anathema. The game of balancing policies will have to start all over again.

Modi has said that he has invited Trump to India – the Trump name has already landed, with a huge luxury real estate project coming up in Mumbai – (and vice-versa) and while British Prime Minister Theresa May will be the first top international leader to visit Washington (she has been berated by the UK media for this move), whether Modi’s future visit to the US swill be as spectacular as before will have to be seen.

Trump has made the right noises for India to feel comfortable in a growing relationship. And when Modi was among the first leaders to phone Trump and congratulate him on his victory, it was probably a move towards strengthening this relationship. It was a hint that India had taken from Trump’s campaign talk, in which he had said: “Under the 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: “I love India, I love Hindu.”

Not that this had anything to do with the ruling party’s Hinduvta drive; if anything it was a generic term that Trump possibly used somewhat unknowingly. That is one part of the new president that Modi has to be careful in assessing.

The big issue is not just a friendship for friendship’s sake. What can India get out of this friendship? There could be more defence deals, and there could yet be a shadow on the Dassault Rafale deal. And if the Trump-Putin friendship holds, India’s joint venture with Russia in developing fifth generation stealth fighter project – known in India as the Perspective Multi-role Fighter (PMF) – could also go ahead smoothly.

The small problem is that Trump has remained as unpredictable in office as he was on campaign. International relations are bound and sealed with the understanding of a level of maturity and stability in dealings. Whether Modi and Trump would be able to reach a proper understanding in the wake of Trump’s strong protectionist attitude, is a delicate matter.

These, therefore, are early times, and early signs might not really be indicative of what the future holds. There is need for caution in dealing with Trump. A huge number of Indian technocrats would be looking forward to it. So would top Indian IT companies, who are already in a hire-local drive in the US.

The bigger bounty would be if Trump actually manages to put hurdles in front of China’s access to the US market. Why he said yes to a complicated deal with Alibaba chief Jack Ma remains an issue mired in complication. That Chinese connection was virtually sealed with “smart” comments from both. And that was even before Trump had taken oath.

If US-China trade relations do hit a roadblock, India must be prepared to take advantage of that. The only problems are India’s woeful infrastructure and absurd red tape.

There will have to be new tweaks in place for India to address a person like Trump; Modi’s personal equation notwithstanding. That will be a tough ‘mitroon’ to handle.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Trump says Iran agrees to never have nuclear weapons, rejects $300 billion fund claim

Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to never possess nuclear weapons under a proposed framework, while dismissing reports that the US would provide Tehran with a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

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Donald Trump statement

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has agreed to a commitment that it will never develop or possess nuclear weapons, describing it as a central element of a proposed understanding between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking about the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Trump also rejected reports suggesting that the United States planned to provide Iran with a reconstruction or investment package worth $300 billion. He described such claims as false and said no such arrangement had been agreed.

The remarks come as discussions continue over a broader framework aimed at easing tensions between the two countries. According to Trump, the understanding would ensure that Iran remains without nuclear weapons while opening the door for future engagement if the terms are respected.

Questions remain over final agreement details

Despite Trump’s comments, several aspects of the proposed arrangement remain unclear because the full text of the agreement has not yet been made public.

Reports indicate that negotiations have involved discussions on sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and potential economic measures linked to Iran’s compliance with future commitments. However, the exact scope of these provisions has not been officially confirmed.

Another key issue is how compliance would be monitored. Details regarding inspections, verification mechanisms and the handling of Iran’s existing nuclear materials have yet to be fully explained.

Further negotiations expected

Officials have suggested that discussions on technical nuclear matters could continue even after the signing of an initial memorandum of understanding. Such talks would likely focus on implementation and verification measures.

The proposed framework is being closely watched internationally, as any agreement between the United States and Iran could have significant implications for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.

For now, Trump has maintained that the core objective remains clear: ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon while denying reports that Washington has committed to a multibillion-dollar reconstruction fund.

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USA start FIFA World Cup 2026 with dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay

The USA opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with a dominant 4-1 victory against Paraguay, earning three valuable points in Group D.

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The United States kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their Group D opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the hosts delivered an attacking display to collect all three points and make an early statement in the tournament. The match also marked a significant occasion as the USA hosted part of the World Cup opening festivities before turning attention to the action on the pitch.

The Americans took control early and maintained pressure on Paraguay throughout the contest. Their attacking movement and clinical finishing helped them establish a comfortable lead, while Paraguay struggled to contain the hosts’ pace and creativity in the final third.

USA seize control after fast start

The United States settled quickly and found success going forward, creating several opportunities through quick passing and aggressive pressing. Their attacking approach paid off as they built momentum and gradually stretched Paraguay’s defence.

Paraguay attempted to respond and managed to get on the scoresheet, but the South American side found it difficult to match the intensity shown by the hosts. The USA continued to create chances and added further goals to put the result beyond doubt.

With the victory, the United States moved to the top section of Group D and gained an important boost in confidence ahead of their upcoming fixtures in the tournament.

Strong opening result for hosts

A winning start is particularly important in a World Cup campaign, and the USA achieved exactly that with a comprehensive performance. The result gives the hosts valuable momentum as they prepare for the next stage of group play.

For Paraguay, the defeat means they will need a strong response in their remaining group matches to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds alive.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the tournament featuring an expanded format and more participating teams than previous editions.

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Jaishankar raises deaths of three Indian sailors with Marco Rubio, lodges strong protest

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed India’s strong protest to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over an attack that killed three Indian sailors, stressing that lethal action against commercial shipping is unjustified.

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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday spoke with Marco Rubio and conveyed India’s strong protest over recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf that resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors.

According to reports, Jaishankar told Rubio that the use of lethal force against commercial shipping was not justified and underlined India’s serious concerns regarding the safety of civilian seafarers operating in the region. The conversation came days after three Indian mariners were killed in an attack on the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello near the Oman coast.

The incident has triggered diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Washington. India had earlier summoned a senior US diplomat to register its concerns and seek accountability following the attack. The Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that actions endangering civilian shipping undermine maritime safety and stability in a strategically important region.

India reiterates concern over maritime safety

India has stressed the importance of protecting civilian seafarers and ensuring the security of international maritime commerce. Officials have expressed concern over multiple incidents involving Indian crew members in West Asian waters in recent days.

The deaths of the three sailors have also sparked calls within India for stronger diplomatic efforts to safeguard Indian nationals working aboard commercial vessels in conflict-affected maritime zones.

Background of the incident

The attack involved the tanker Settebello, which was operating near Oman when it was struck during ongoing tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran and maritime operations in the Gulf region. Initial reports indicated that Indian crew members were among those affected, and later confirmations established that three Indian sailors had died in the incident.

India has maintained that civilian shipping should not become a target and has continued diplomatic outreach to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers working across global shipping routes.

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