Modi phones Tump over Afghanistan, receives trade deficit advice

AVA- Readouts from Washington and New Delhi did not spell out precise details of what was discussed, but they broadly expressed satisfaction at the various mechanisms and progress in advancing the ties.
"President Trump received a call today from Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India on the occasion of the New Year. The leaders agreed to strengthen the US-India strategic partnership in 2019 and exchanged perspectives on how to reduce the US trade deficit with India, expand security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, and increase cooperation in Afghanistan," the White House said of the call.
The ministry of external affairs in New Delhi said in a separate statement that the two leaders "expressed satisfaction at the progress in India-US strategic partnership in 2018" and they "appreciated developments such as the launch of the new 2+2 Dialogue mechanism and the first-ever Trilateral Summit of India, the US and Japan."
The phone call was the first conversation between the two leaders after Trump twitted Modi over the Indian prime minister purported boast to the US President about India’s setting up libraries in Afghanistan, an effort Trump sees as useless.
The White House statement also made note of the US trade deficit with India (which the Indian statement did not), reflecting another Trump obsession.
US trade deficit with India is a relatively paltry $27 billion compared to the $375 billion deficit Washington has with Beijing. But the US President has been relentless in berating India on the issue, urging it to reduce tariffs and buy more US goods to plug the gap.
Trump declined a sketchy Indian invitation to be chief guest at India’s annual Republic Day celebration in New Delhi on January 26. The two leaders last had a face-to-face encounter during a trilateral that also included Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the side-lines of the G20 in Buenos Aires last month, a grouping Modi characterized as “JAI” without the acronym making much of an impression on Trump.
While the US President has repeatedly said he gets along well with the Indian Prime Minister, who is heading into a general election only a few weeks from now, he has often twitted Modi about the tone and content of their conversations, suggesting the Indian leader tries to smooth-talk him over differences, particularly on trade and commerce.