Praising US President Donald Trump for his “humility” and “resilience” and noting that he seems “far more prepared than before”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Trump has a “clear roadmap in his mind with well-defined steps, each one designed to lead him toward his goals” and that he is for “America First” while “I stand for India First”. In a wide-ranging interaction with podcaster Lex Fridman, made public Sunday, Modi said India and China are now “working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020” — when the military standoff began along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh — and “our focus is to ensure that these differences don’t turn into disputes”. On the Russia-Ukraine war, the Prime Minister said a resolution will only come when both Ukraine and Russia come to the negotiating table, and he can also tell Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a “friendly way that brother, regardless of how many people stand with you in the world, there will never be a resolution on the battlefield… Ukraine may hold countless discussions with their allies, but it will bear no fruit”. He also called out Pakistan’s long-standing role in fostering terrorism, emphasising that the world is no longer in doubt about where the roots of terror lie. Pakistan, he said, has become the epicentre of terror, causing immense suffering not just to India but to the entire world. On President Trump, he recalled the Howdy Modi event in Houston in September 2019 where “both President Trump and I were there and the entire stadium was completely packed… Both of us delivered speeches and he sat down below, listening to me speak. Now, that’s his humility. The President of the United States sitting in the audience while I spoke from the stage, that was a remarkable gesture on his part.” After his speech, he recalled asking Trump to take a round of the stadium and “without even a moment’s hesitation, he agreed and started walking with me… His entire security detail was thrown off guard, but for me that moment was truly touching. It showed me that this man had courage. He makes his own decisions, but also he trusted me and my lead in that moment enough to have walked with me into the crowd. It was that sense of mutual trust, a strong bond between us that I truly witnessed on that day and the way I saw President Trump that day walking into a crowd of thousands without even asking security, it was truly amazing.” Referring to the assassination attempt on Trump in July last year, he said, “I saw the same resilient and determined President Trump, the one who walked hand-in-hand with me in that stadium. Even after being shot, he remained unwaveringly dedicated to America. His life was for his nation. His reflection showed his America First spirit, just as I believe in Nation First. I stand for India First and that’s why we connect so well.” Recalling his first meeting, he said, “The very moment I stepped into the White House, he broke all formal protocols right away. And then, he personally took me on a tour of the White House. As he showed me around, I noticed something striking, he wasn’t holding any notes or cue cards, nor was anyone accompanying him to assist. He pointed things out himself. ‘This is where Abraham Lincoln lived,’ he said…He would point at the table and tell me which President signed here and on what date. I found that incredibly impressive. It showed how much he honored the Presidency and how respectful and deeply connected he was to America’s history.” Modi said that after President Joe Biden won, four years passed, but “during that time whenever someone we both knew met him (Trump), and this must have happened dozens of times, he would say, ‘Modi is my friend, convey my regards.’ That kind of gesture is rare. Even though we didn’t meet physically for years, our direct and indirect communication, our closeness and the trust between us remained unshaken.” Asked about being complimented by Trump on being a good negotiator, he said, “. it is very kind of him that he openly appreciates me on various occasions and in different contexts. But when it comes to negotiation, I always put my country’s interests first. That’s why in every forum, I speak up for India’s interest, not to harm anyone but in a positive manner and because of that, no one takes offence. People know that if Modi is present, he will strongly advocate for these things. After all, the people of India have given me this responsibility. For me, my nation is my high command and I will always honour their will.” About his meetings with Elon Musk, J D Vance and others in the US, he said, “Look, I can say this, I have observed President Trump both during his first term and now in his second run. This time, he seems far more prepared than before. He has a clear roadmap in his mind with well-defined steps, each one designed to lead him toward his goals. I also had the chance to meet members of his team, and I truly believe he has put together a strong, capable group and with such a strong team, I feel they are fully capable of implementing President Trump’s vision based on my interactions with them. I met several people: Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk, and there was a family-like atmosphere, everyone had come with their families. As for Elon Musk, I have known him since my time as Chief Minister (of Gujarat). He was there with his family and children, so naturally the atmosphere felt warm and friendly.” On India-China ties Modi said India and China are now “working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020”. “It is true that there have been ongoing border disputes between us. And in 2020, the incidents along the border created significant tensions between our countries. However, after my recent meeting with President Xi, we have seen a return to normalcy at the border. We are now working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020. Slowly but surely, trust, enthusiasm, and energy will return. But of course, it will take some time, since there’s been a five-year gap. Our cooperation isn’t just beneficial, it’s also essential for global stability and prosperity. And since the 21st century is Asia’s century, we want India and China to compete in a healthy and natural way. Competition is not a bad thing, but it should never turn into conflict.” “Look, the relationship between India and China isn’t something new. Both nations have ancient cultures and civilisations. Even in the modern world, they play a significant role. If you look at historical records, for centuries, India and China have learned from each other. Together, they have always contributed to the global good in some way. Old records suggest that at one point India and China alone accounted for more than 50% of the world’s GDP. That’s how massive India’s contribution was. And I believe our ties have been extremely strong, with deep cultural connections. If we look back centuries, there’s no real history of conflict between us. It has always been about learning from each other and understanding one another. At one time, Buddhism had a profound influence in China, and that philosophy originally came from here.” He said, “Our relationship should remain just as strong in the future. It should continue to grow. Of course, differences are natural. When two neighboring countries exist, occasional disagreements are bound to happen. Even within a family, not everything is always perfect. But our focus is to ensure that these differences don’t turn into disputes. That’s what we actively work toward. Instead of discord, we emphasise dialogue, because only through dialogue can we build a stable cooperative relationship that serves the best interests of both nations.” On Russia-Ukraine war Modi said a resolution will only come when both Ukraine and Russia come to the negotiating table. “I have a close relationship with Russia and Ukraine alike. I can sit with President Putin and say that this is not the time for war, and I can also tell President Zelenskyy in a friendly way that brother, regardless of how many people stand with you in the world, there will never be a resolution on the battlefield. The resolution will only come when both Ukraine and Russia come to the negotiating table. Ukraine may hold countless discussions with their allies, but it will bear no fruit. Discussions must include both parties instead. Initially, it was challenging to find peace, but now the current situation presents an opportunity for meaningful and productive talks between Ukraine and Russia.” On possible mediation, he said, “I represent the country that is the land of Lord Buddha. I represent the country that is the land of Mahatma Gandhi. These are the great souls whose teachings, words, actions, and behavior are entirely dedicated to peace. And that is why, culturally and historically, our background is so strong that whenever we speak of peace, the world listens to us. Because India is the land of Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi and Indians aren’t hardwired to espouse strife and conflict. We espouse harmony instead. We seek neither to wage war against nature, nor to foster strife among nations. We stand for peace and wherever we can act as peacemakers, we have gladly embraced that responsibility.” “I have always maintained that I stand with peace. I am not neutral. I have a stance and that is peace, and peace is what I strive for,” he said. On India-Pakistan Modi said, “Time and again, they (Pakistan) decided to be at odds with India. They have waged a proxy war against us.” “Don’t mistake this for ideology. What kind of ideology thrives on bloodshed and the export of terror? And we are not the sole victims of this menace. Wherever terror strikes in the world, the trail somehow leads to Pakistan. Let’s take the September 11 attacks, for example. The main mastermind behind it, Osama bin Laden, where did he eventually emerge from? He had taken refuge in Pakistan. The world has recognised that in a way terrorism and the terrorist mindset are deeply rooted in Pakistan.” Referring to his attempts, Modi said, “When I became Prime Minister, I especially invited Pakistan to my swearing-in ceremony so we could turn over a new leaf. Yet, every noble attempt at fostering peace was met with hostility and betrayal. We sincerely hope that wisdom prevails upon them and they choose the path of peace. I believe even the people of Pakistan long for peace because they must be weary of living in strife and unrest, they must have grown weary of relentless terror… innocent children are killed and countless lives are destroyed.”
