PM Modi in US

By R Anil Kumar

• Modi and Trump strengthen ties on trade, defence, energy, security, and terrorism, with extradition of Tahawwur Rana approved

• ‘PM Modi is a much tougher negotiator than me, not even a contest,’ says Trump

Washington. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Donald Trump for the first time since his return to the White House on January 20 for his second term as US President. PM Modi and President Trump shared a hug, warmly greeted each other, and shook hands at the White House. The two leaders praised their strong bond and expressed hope for stronger ties and trade deals.

Modi, Trump sign deal to make US top oil, gas supplier of India

Narendra Modi US visit highlights: After the bombshell announcement of his plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on US trade partners, including India, Trump on met PM Modi in White House and vowed stronger ties and better trade. Modi, Trump signed a deal to make US top oil, gas supplier of India.

Key Events

• ‘We missed you a lot,’ says Donald Trump as he hugs PM Modi while welcoming him to the White House
• ‘I would love to help,’ US President Donald Trump on India-China border issues
• ‘India, America have been together in fight against terrorism,’ says PM Modi in White House
• Donald Trump says ‘Modi is a much tougher, better negotiator than me’
• I believe every Indian is mine,’ says PM when asked if the Gautam Adani issue was discussed with Trump
• Modi, Trump sign deal to make US top oil, gas supplier of India
• ‘How would one fight China then’, says Trump on going tough on trade with India
• Modi-Trump praise strong bond amid tariff concerns
• India going to purchase a lot of our oil, gas,’ Trump says after meet with PM
• Wonderful trade deals ahead, says Trump on meeting PM

Trump and Modi emphasised the “special bond” between the world’s oldest and largest democracies, agreeing to enhance cooperation in energy, technology, and connectivity.

President Donald Trump called PM Modi a “great friend” but warned that India won’t be exempt from the higher tariffs he’s imposing on U.S. trade partners.

Trump announced plans to significantly increase military sales to India, including paving the way for providing F-35 stealth fighters.

The US and India reached an agreement to make the US a leading supplier of oil and gas to India.

Trump stated that India and the US will collaborate more than ever to confront radical Islamic terrorism globally.

Trump confirmed the approval of the extradition of 26/11 plotter Tahawwur Rana to India, calling him “one of the very evil people of the world.”

On tariffs, Trump emphasised that the US seeks a level playing field in trade with India.

While discussing his administration’s trade policy, Trump said, “We are going to work with India as well and have separate big trade deals to announce in the near future,”

PM Modi stated that India and the US have set a target of USD 500 billion for bilateral trade by 2023. He also mentioned that teams from both nations will collaborate to finalise a mutually beneficial trade agreement.

PM Modi also stated that India is willing to repatriate its nationals living illegally in the United States and emphasised the importance of dismantling the “ecosystem” of human trafficking.

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands, at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 13, 2025.

Narendra Modi US visit highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Donald Trump for the first time since his return to the White House on January 20 for his second term as US President. The two leaders praised their strong bond and hoped for stronger ties and trade deals as the meeting took place amid concerns over Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff plans, which can impact India hard.

PM Modi began two-day US visit on Thursday with a meeting with US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and also held talks with the world’s richest man Elon Musk at the Blair House in Washington, which is hosting him during his two-day US visit. PM Modi also met Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy.

Right before meeting PM Modi, US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs, stating that the United States will levy same charges as countries impose on it, singling out India as one of the highest charging countries.

PM Modi’s visit to the US comes after a two-day trip to France, during which he held bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and discussed a wide range of issues, including collaboration on AI and civil nuclear energy.

PM Modi US visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Washington DC in the early hours of Thursday (late Wednesday EST), kicking off his two-day US visit. PM Modi’s US visit’s most anticipated bit was his bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump which comes amid tariff threat.

PM Modi’s Washington visit comes nearly three weeks after the January 20 inauguration of Donald Trump and amid tariff threats issued by the US leader in the recent past.

Trump on Thursday, February 13, rolled out his plan to increase US tariffs to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports. He also singled out India as the country that imposes the highest tariffs. His remarks came just hours before with meeting with PM Modi. “No more or no less… They charge us a tax or tariff, and we charge the exact same tax or tariff… no body knows what that number is… you go to an individual country and see what they are charging us,” said Donald Trump while announcing tariffs.

India has more tariffs than nearly any other country, said Donald Trump while announcing reciprocal tariffs. The tariffs could mean duties levied on Indian imports to the US, which Trump had earlier stated would be equal to the taxes charged by other nations on their products.

PM Narendra Modi’s high-profile engagements after reaching Washington included his meetings with United States National Security Advisor Michael Waltz at Blair House in Washington DC and with the US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. Just hours before Tulsi Gabbard’s meeting with PM Modi, she took the oath of office as the 8th Director of National Intelligence in the presence of Donald Trump. PM Modi also met Indian-origin entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy at Blair House on Thursday.

Ahead of his visit, the prime minister had remarked that he was looking forward to meeting his “friend” Donald Trump and recalled working together in Trump’s first term to build a global partnership. PM added that the trip was an “opportunity to build upon the successes of our collaboration in his first term and develop an agenda to further elevate and deepen our partnership.”