Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump this week, marking a significant step in New Delhi’s efforts to forge closer ties with Washington across key sectors, including technology, defense, and trade. This meeting positions Modi among the first foreign leaders to engage with Trump during his second term in office.
Before heading to the U.S., Modi will stop in France for discussions with President Emmanuel Macron and to participate in the AI Action Summit. “I look forward to meeting my friend, President Trump,” Modi stated prior to his departure. He emphasized the importance of their ongoing partnership, recalling their collaborative efforts in building a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership during Trump’s first term.
The two leaders have maintained a cordial relationship, highlighted by notable events such as the “Howdy Modi” rally in Houston in 2019, which attracted around 50,000 attendees, and the “Namaste Trump” event in Gujarat during Trump’s visit to India in February 2020, where approximately 100,000 people welcomed him.
“This visit will provide an opportunity to build upon the successes of our collaboration and to develop an agenda that further elevates our partnership,” Modi remarked, underscoring the focus on technology, trade, defense, energy, and supply chain resilience.
India views the U.S. as one of its strongest international partners, with bilateral trade exceeding $118 billion in 2023-2024, resulting in a trade surplus of $32 billion for India, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
However, Modi’s visit comes amid controversy, following the recent deportation of 104 Indians by U.S. authorities, an incident that has sparked significant outrage among legislators and citizens in India. As Modi prepares for this pivotal meeting, the focus will be on addressing both opportunities and challenges in the evolving U.S.-India relationship
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