'Big fan of Modi, India can count on me': Trump calls into Delhi event as Rubio holds talks

US President Donald Trump on Sunday phoned into an event marking America's 250th Independence Day at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, expressing strong personal support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asserting that ties between the two countries had "never been closer."

Speaking over speakerphone to hundreds gathered at the reception hosted by the US Embassy, Trump said, "I love the Prime Minister. Modi is great. He's my friend, and I just want to say a very, very good evening to everybody this morning here, and this evening there. And I just want to say, you're great. We've never been closer to India, and India can count on me 100% and our country."

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Trump also reiterated his backing for India. "If they ever need help, they know where to call. They call right here. We're doing well. We're setting records. We have a record economy, a record stock market and anything India wants to get. I am a big fan of Prime Minister Modi," he said.

The US President also praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was present at the event. "Marco is the greatest. He's going down as the greatest Secretary of State in the history of the US. Say hello to Prime Minister Modi and let him know I'm a big fan," Trump said.

The call came as Rubio was in India on a visit that includes meetings with Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and attendance at the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting slated for May 26 at Hyderabad House.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who attended the reception, said the Trump-Modi bond was central to the bilateral relationship. "Every time the President and I speak, one of the first questions he asks is, 'How is my friend the Prime Minister doing?' That is important to convey because this relationship is not new. It goes back almost a decade," Gor said.

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According to the Prime Minister's statement, Modi and Rubio discussed defence cooperation, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity, education, and people-to-people ties during their meeting on Saturday. Rubio also shared the US perspective on developments in West Asia.

The US State Department said Rubio stressed that Washington "will not let Iran hold the global energy market hostage" and noted that US energy exports could help diversify India's energy supplies.