US President Donald Trump announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would likely visit the United States in February, following a productive phone call between the two leaders on Monday. The discussion focused on enhancing the US-India strategic partnership and advancing bilateral cooperation, according to a White House statement.
During the call, Trump and Modi explored ways to strengthen trade ties, with a significance on creating a “fair” bilateral trading relationship. Trump highlighted the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment. The leaders also discussed regional security issues, including the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe.
The conversation underscored India’s role in the Indo-Pacific Quad partnership, with Modi hosting Quad leaders for the first time later this year. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation across economic and strategic sectors.
The announcement comes amid concerns over the Trump administration’s policies on immigration and tariffs, including the threat of imposing “100 percent tariffs” on BRICS nations, which include India. Despite these challenges, trade between the US and India reached a record $190 billion in 2023.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed optimism about resolving trade and immigration issues through dialogue. Jaiswal emphasized that trade remains a cornerstone of the multi-faceted India-US relationship.
This visit would mark Modi’s first to the US since Trump’s reelection in 2024. The two leaders share a history of high-profile engagements, including joint rallies in Houston and Ahmedabad in 2019 and 2020. Modi was among the first global leaders to congratulate Trump after his recent electoral victory, highlighting the strong ties between the two nations.
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