Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House next week, a senior official confirmed on Monday. The visit will focus on trade, defense cooperation and immigration.
Modi should arrive at Washington DC on February 12 after concluding a visit to France. He will remain in the American capital until February 14, during which he should also engage with business leaders and the Indian-American community.
Trump and Modi spoke for the last time on January 27, the American president would have stressed the importance of India to buy more American manufacturing equipment and to ensure a balanced commercial relationship.
India, a key American partner in the fight against the influence of China in Indo-Pacific, wishes to extend trade links and obtain easier access to qualified Indian workers in the United States. The country also seeks to avoid the potential prices that Trump previously threatened, citing India’s high import duties on American products.
The United States is the largest trading partner in India, bilateral trade exceeding $ 118 billion in 2023/24. India posted a trade surplus of $ 32 billion, a key point of discord for the Trump administration, which has committed to reducing commercial imbalances.
Familiar officials with discussions suggest that Trump wishes a more substantial commitment on the part of India on commercial reforms, including higher energy imports and changes to its nuclear responsibility legislation to facilitate a greater Commercial cooperation.
Trump has also linked immigration to bilateral ties, urging Modi to approach the return of Indian Migrants expelled from the United States. An American military plane left for India earlier this week, transporting expelled migrants, stressing Washington’s attention on the issue.
On the strategic front, the two countries should reaffirm the commitments under the Quad, with an increased concentration on military interoperability and the sharing of technologies. The reports suggest that Washington is willing to examine the regulations for the control of exports linked to Indian Defense Acquisitions.
The visit comes as the American administration faces delays in the appointment of key staff for roles linked to India in the State Department and the Pentagon. Trump has not announced an American ambassador to India, while the main diplomatic positions remain vacant.
Despite these challenges, those responsible consider the visit as an opportunity for Modi and Trump to strengthen personal links, set strategic priorities and guide their administrations on future cooperation. Trump is expected to visit India later this year to attend the top of quad leaders.
