US-India relations continue to warm as Modi and Trump exchange Independence Day tweets

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo affirms Washington’s support for New Delhi in call with Indian External Affairs Minister

Prime Minister Modi and President Trump also exchange warm messages in US Independence Day tweets

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (second from left) during an unannounced visit on Friday to a military base in the remote border region with China. Photo: AP

Published: 8:30pm, 5 Jul 2020Updated: 9:48pm, 5 Jul 2020

There were further signs last week of warming ties between India and the United States amid the escalation of tensions between India and China, including an exchange of pleasantries between the heads of the two countries on America’s Independence Day.

Beijing has long been wary of Washington’s support for New Delhi and Chinese analysts have argued that an improvement in India-US relations can only go so far.

But recent reports show the US and India have worked closer than expected in the aftermath of the deadly border clash between Chinese and Indian troops in the Himalayan region of Ladakh.

Citing unnamed sources, The Indian Express reported on Sunday that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had expressed “Washington’s support to New Delhi at that time of crisis” in a call to Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar around 10 days ago. Pompeo also said the US would provide India with intelligence on Chinese activity along the border.

“While I wouldn’t say China is worried by expressions of support by the US for India, of course China does not want to see India move towards the US,” said Wang Dehua, an expert on India at the Shanghai Municipal Centre for International Studies. “The US may prefer to fan the flames and watch, but I don’t think India will succumb to US influence.”

Nevertheless, at least superficially, the two countries have made friendly gestures towards each other in recent days. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent US President Donald Trump a congratulatory message on Twitter to mark US Independence Day on Saturday, to which Trump replied “Thank you my friend. America loves India!”

Modi made a surprise visit to the Galwan valley on Friday, where 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in hand-to-hand clashes with Chinese troops in mid-June.

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