US President Donald Trump calls India ‘true friend’

Washington: US President Donald Trump calls India a “true friend”, a top American diplomat has said as she highlighted the steps taken by the US over the last two years to strengthen its ties with India for the benefit of a broader Indo Pacific region.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells’ remarks came at a farewell reception hosted by the State Department in honour of the outgoing Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna.

“Trump calls India a true friends and Secretary (of State Mike) Pompeo has characterise the US-India bilateral relationship as one deeply bound by our shared values,” she said.

Top officials of the State Department and the White House were present at the reception for Sarna held at the Blair House, which is the official guest house of the US President. It is quite rare that the Blair House is used for a State Department farewell reception for an outgoing diplomat.

The US tenure of Sarna, who is retiring from Indian foreign service after an illustrious career of 38 years, has been extraordinary, Wells told the select audience.

Sarna took charge as India's ambassador to the US on November 5, 2016.“Over the last two years, we have been able to host PM Modi in Washington,” Wells said.