India-US ties need fixing, ex-official says.

India and United States, both need "political balm" to ease the relations, former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said.

Speaking with CNBC-TV18 in an exclusive interview on Monday, September 6, Rao said, "The

remarks made by President Trump and PM Modi are an opening gambit not a reset of the ties," adding, "Both sides need some 'political balm' as no new talks have been announced yet."

"Domestic sentiment is bruised in India and comments from Lutnick have landed badly in India," Rao further said.

US President Donald Trump on Friday, September 5, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would always remain his friend, and there was nothing to worry about the India-US ties. Trump added that he did not like what PM Modi is doing at the moment.

Trump's remarks came amid growing rhetoric by Trump and his administration against India citing its oil purchase was helping Russia to fuel its war with Ukraine.

The positive remarks were soon reciprocated by PM Modi. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi wrote, "Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump's sentiments and positive assessment of our ties."

He added that India and US have a positive and forward looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership.

India

and US are negotiating a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) to boost the economic relations and increase the trade volume between the two countries.

The negotiations which started in March earlier this year, witnessed a few setbacks as US imposed 25% tariffs on India, which was later doubled to 50%, citing the continuous oil purchase from Russia.

A US negotiating team was scheduled to visit New Delhi during late August but the talks were postponed and no new date has been announced yet.

India

maintained that it buys oil depending on the country's requirements and by assessing what markets offer. The MEA called the tariffs unjust while highlighting that other countries such as China and the US-ally European Union are major energy importers from Russia.