In a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said the US considers India a “true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world”, according to a White House statement.
The two leaders also discussed opportunities to “strengthen the partnership between the United States and India in broad areas such as the economy and defense”, the statement said without citing specific areas, sectors or goals.
Modi and Trump, who were speaking for the first time after the new US president took charge last Friday, also discussed “security in the region of South and Central Asia”, but the statement left out details.
South and Central Asia cover many areas of mutual interest to both India and the United States including Pakistan and Afghanistan, and it could not be immediately confirmed if the leaders discussed the drawdown of US troops in Afghanistan.
