Modi and Trump: Diplomatic Toughness Amid Trade Pressures and Asian Power Balancing
U.S. President Donald Trump praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 'a very tough cookie' โ a phrase he commonly uses to describe Modi's firmness, shrewdness, and bargaining power in global diplomacy. The compliment was made during an exclusive interview with Axios following the G7 summit in Apulia, Italy, where both leaders discussed progress in bilateral trade negotiations. Although India-U.S. relations face structural tensions over tariffs, Russian arms purchases, and India's decision not to join sanctions against Russia, strategic cooperation continues to strengthen โ particularly within the I2U2 and Quad frameworks. In South Asia, Trump's praise is not just rhetoric; it reflects a subtle shift in geopolitics, where India is increasingly seen as an important balance between the U.S. and China.