Putin praises India ties, Trump calls Modi friend
India wins praise from Putin and Trump
Putin and Trump shower praise on India
India received strong diplomatic backing from both Russia and the United States this week, even as the country reported better-than-expected economic growth while facing fresh concerns over global uncertainty linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that India’s growing cooperation with the United States would not weaken the long-standing relationship between New Delhi and Moscow. Speaking about bilateral ties, Putin described India as a reliable and trusted partner, dismissing suggestions that closer India-US engagement could negatively affect Russia’s ties with the country.
Russia remains one of India’s key partners in areas such as energy, defense and trade, while relations with the United States have also expanded significantly in recent years.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump also expressed warm sentiments toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he shares a “good relationship” with the Indian leader. Trump’s comments highlighted the continuing importance of India-US ties, which have grown across sectors including technology, trade, investment and security cooperation.
The statements from both Putin and Trump underline India’s increasing influence on the global stage and its ability to maintain productive relations with major world powers despite geopolitical competition between them.
On the economic front, India delivered encouraging news after official figures showed that the country’s economy grew faster than analysts had expected during the January-March quarter of 2026. According to government data released on Friday, India’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 7.8 percent compared with the same period a year earlier.
Although the growth rate was slightly lower than the 8 percent recorded in the previous quarter, it comfortably exceeded market expectations of 7.3 percent. The stronger-than-anticipated performance reflects continued resilience in domestic demand, investment activity and economic momentum despite a challenging global environment.
The latest figures also pushed India’s estimated GDP growth for the 2025-26 fiscal year to 7.7 percent, an improvement from 7.1 percent in the previous financial year. The data reinforces India’s position as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies at a time when several advanced and emerging economies are experiencing slower growth.
On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised its growth forecast for the 2026-27 fiscal year downward to 6.6 percent from the 6.9 percent projected in April.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the revision was driven by heightened global uncertainty and supply-chain risks arising from the ongoing Middle East crisis. He warned that prolonged disruptions to global trade routes, volatility in international financial markets and weather-related challenges could create headwinds for economic growth.
The governor also noted that rising energy prices and interruptions in the supply of key commodities may put additional pressure on businesses and consumers in the months ahead. As a major importer of crude oil, India remains particularly sensitive to fluctuations in global energy markets.
While India’s latest growth numbers demonstrate the economy’s strength and resilience, policymakers remain cautious about external risks. The combination of strong domestic performance and growing global uncertainty will likely shape India’s economic outlook in the months ahead.