Prime Minister Modi's Upcoming US Visit: A Key Moment for India-US Relations

New Delhi, Feb 7 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to become one of the first global leaders to travel to the United States following the inauguration of President Donald Trump for his second term, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday.

The trip is scheduled for February 12 and 13, as per the invitation from the President of the United States, marking PM Modi's inaugural visit since Trump's new term began.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized to reporters in New Delhi that the invitation extended to the Prime Minister so shortly after the new administration's commencement signifies the importance of the India-US partnership and highlights the bipartisan support it enjoys in the United States.

This visit presents a significant chance to engage with the new administration on all areas of mutual interest, as stressed by the Foreign Secretary.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with President Trump, both in restricted and delegation-level formats.

Additionally, senior officials from the US administration are anticipated to meet PM Modi during his stay, and he will also interact with business leaders and members of the Indian community, as stated by the Foreign Secretary.

Highlighting the robust nature of India's international partnerships in recent years, Misri noted that this visit aligns with New Delhi's consistent engagement with the new US administration after President Trump's election victory in November 2024.

During Trump's first term, Prime Minister Modi visited the US twice in 2017 and 2019. Following Trump's election win, PM Modi was among the first leaders to congratulate him, and they agreed to meet promptly after the inauguration. This commitment is now coming to fruition, according to Misri.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, who was present at Trump's inauguration, also had his initial meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

During his visit, EAM Jaishankar met with the newly appointed US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, a former Congressman.

On Thursday evening, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the new US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterated their shared commitment to the India-US defence partnership during their first conversation.

Both leaders agreed on pursuing an ambitious agenda to enhance operational collaboration and defence industrial and technological cooperation to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific. The Secretary expressed eagerness for the upcoming 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and the conclusion of the next ten-year US-India Defence Framework within this year, as per a statement from the US Defence Department.