Modi and Trump: Diplomatic Resilience Amid International Trade Pressures
US President Donald Trump praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 'a very tough cookie' โ his unique way of describing firmness, shrewdness, and resilience in negotiations. The compliment was delivered in an exclusive interview with Axios after the G7 summit in Apulia, Italy, in June 2024. Although US-India trade relations still face tensions โ particularly regarding steel import tariffs, semiconductor technology export restrictions, and pharmaceutical market access โ Trump emphasized that a bilateral trade agreement is in its final stages of negotiation. This occurs against the backdrop of a complex South Asian geopolitical landscape, where India seeks to maintain a strategic balance between Washington, Beijing, and Moscow while accelerating its domestic economic transformation.