US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he is “very close” to India and shares a strong personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, the British PM's countryside residence, Trump said he has a “very good relationship” with Modi and also wished him on his 75th birthday -- a gesture reciprocated by the Indian leader with a “beautiful” statement.

“I'm very close to India. I'm very close to the Prime Minister of India. I spoke to him the other day to wish him a Happy Birthday,\" Trump told reporters.

\"We have a very good relationship, and he put out a beautiful statement too. But I sanctioned them,” he said, in response to a question about his plans on dealing with Russian President Vladimir Puti

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