In a sign of the deepening ties between India and the United States (US), President Donald Trump has honoured Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, with the prestigious Legion of Merit award for his leadership role in the emergence of India as a global power and elevating the strategic partnership between two nations, reports Times of India.

The Legion of Merit award, is the highest degree of the Chief Commander, was conferred upon PM Modi by US' National Security Advisor (NSA) Robert O-Brien. Meanwhile, the honour was received by Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu on PM Modi's behalf.

Other than PM Modi, the US also bestowed the honour on Australian PM Scott Morrison and former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. The awards were received by the Australian and Japanese Ambassadors in Washington DC.

It should be noted that the honour is typically awarded to the Head of State or Government by the American President. With this, the US is the latest to join the list of nations which have conferred an award on PM Modi.

PM Modi has previously been honoured with the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud by Saudi Arabia in 2016, State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan in 2016, Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award in 2018, Order of Zayed Award by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2019, Order of St Andrew by Russia in 2019 and the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin by the Maldives in 2019.