Prime Minister Modi to Meet President Trump for Key Talks on Strengthening US-India Ties

New Delhi, February 10, 2025 – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet US President Donald Trump later this week in Washington, D.C., marking an important moment in strengthening the US-India relationship across various sectors, including technology, defense, trade, and energy.

Modi, who will be one of the first foreign leaders to meet Trump in his second term, will also make a stop in France for a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron before heading to the US. The visit is expected to deepen bilateral ties and lay the groundwork for a forward-looking partnership.

“I look forward to meeting my friend, President Trump,” Modi said ahead of his departure. “Although this will be our first meeting following his historic electoral victory and inauguration in January, I have a very warm recollection of working together in his first term to build a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between India and the US.”

The two leaders had a positive working relationship during Trump’s first term, highlighted by significant events such as the “Howdy Modi” rally in Houston, Texas, in 2019, which attracted around 50,000 people, and the “Namaste Trump” event in February 2020 in Gujarat, where Modi hosted Trump with an audience of 100,000.

“This visit will be an opportunity to build upon the successes of our collaboration during his first term and develop an agenda to further elevate and deepen our partnership, particularly in technology, trade, defense, energy, and supply chain resilience,” Modi stated.

India views the United States as one of its strongest international partnerships, with bilateral trade between the two countries surpassing $118 billion in 2023-2024. India is also enjoying a trade surplus of $32 billion with the US, reflecting the growing economic ties between the nations.

However, the visit comes amid some tensions, notably after the US recently deported 104 Indians under controversial circumstances, sparking significant outrage in India. The incident has garnered widespread criticism from both lawmakers and the public, adding a layer of complexity to the otherwise positive diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

As Modi looks to strengthen the US-India alliance, his upcoming meeting with President Trump is expected to pave the way for further collaboration and shared progress on key global issues.