By The Sampadak Express
US President Donald Trump has revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Washington in February, with discussions likely to focus on strengthening bilateral ties. During a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday, Trump confirmed the possibility of Modi’s visit, stating that they share a strong relationship and that the visit would further solidify the India-US ties.
Trump was responding to a query about his recent phone conversation with PM Modi, although there was no immediate confirmation from the Indian government regarding the visit. Diplomatic sources in New Delhi, however, have hinted that efforts are underway for an early meeting between the two leaders.
In his statement, Trump also commented on the ongoing issue of illegal immigration, expressing confidence that India will take necessary action regarding the repatriation of illegal migrants. “I had a long talk with him this morning. He is going to be coming to the White House, probably next month, in February,” Trump said. “We have a very good relationship with India,” he added.
The White House issued a readout of the phone call, stating that Trump underscored the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment and moving towards a fairer trade relationship. The Indian government’s statement highlighted that the two leaders discussed measures to further global peace and security, as well as cooperation in key areas such as technology, trade, and defense. They also agreed to meet at an “early mutually convenient date,” without providing further details.
The US President also addressed the issue of immigration, stating that he believes India will do “what is right when it comes to taking back illegal immigrants.” When asked about the specifics of his phone call with Modi, Trump responded by saying, “Everything came up,” implying that a range of issues were covered during their conversation.
Both leaders discussed a range of regional matters, including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe, according to the White House readout. Trump expressed satisfaction with the “productive” call and the ongoing strengthening of cooperation between the two countries.
The leaders also touched on plans for Modi to visit the White House, emphasizing the strength of the strategic partnership and the friendship between the nations. The readout further noted that both Trump and Modi reiterated their commitment to advancing the India-US strategic partnership and the Quad partnership, with India set to host the Quad leaders for the first time later this year.
Trump’s previous visit to India in February 2020 was his last foreign trip during his first term as president. The visit included a joint rally with Modi at a cricket stadium in Ahmedabad. Modi had also been one of the first leaders to congratulate Trump after his re-election in November 2020. Despite their friendly relations, Trump had previously criticized India on trade issues, describing the country as a “very big abuser” during his campaign.
In recent months, Trump has voiced concerns over possible retaliatory tariffs on countries like China and India. He has also been vocal about efforts by Brics nations, especially China and Russia, to push for trade settlements in domestic currencies, a move aimed at reducing dependence on the US dollar.
The US is India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods exceeding $118 billion in the 2023-24 fiscal year. India posted a trade surplus of $32 billion during this period. To address some of the trade concerns raised by the Trump administration, India is looking at increasing imports from the US, particularly in the energy sector, by possibly purchasing more oil and gas.
The defense sector remains another critical area of cooperation between the two nations. The US is a leading supplier of advanced defense equipment to India, including medium and heavy-lift aircraft, attack helicopters, and various weapons systems. In 2023, India and the US finalized a $4 billion deal for India to acquire 31 MQ-9B drones, further deepening their defense partnership.
As the two leaders continue to work on strengthening ties, PM Modi’s potential visit to the US in February is expected to be a significant step in enhancing the strategic partnership between the two nations.
