Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Madhav has expressed hope that US President-elect Donald Trump will bring ‘fresh ideas’ to combat terrorism. The party’s general secretary also said Trump “seems to have a friendly perspective towards India”. Madhav was speaking at an event organised by the Federation of India and Indian Diaspora Studies.

“Going by his pre-election statements towards India, the president-elect seems to have a friendly perspective,” Madhav said. “He does not seem to be a run-of-the-mill politician, hence we expect him to bring fresh ideas to counter-terrorism, and establish the rule of law,” he said.

Madhav said that while Indo-US ties had reached a new peak under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama, the relationship will only march ahead under the Trump administration.

While campaigning in the run-up to the presidential elections in October, Trump had said, “I am a big fan of Hindu and I am a big fan of India.” He had said that the US and India will have “a phenomenal future together”. “India is key and a key strategic ally,” he had said, adding that he looks forward to deepening and strengthening military cooperation with the country.