PM Modi Set to Land in Snowy Washington
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Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in snow-covered Washington for his first in-person meeting with President Donald Trump since the latter's return to the White House. Discussions will likely revolve around trade and energy, with a joint statement to follow their meetings.
Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Modi arrives in Washington for talks with President Trump.
- Trade and energy are primary discussion topics.
- Both leaders share a warm relationship.
- The visit underscores the significance of the India-US partnership.
- Strengthening ties with the Indian community in the US.
Washington, Feb 12 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to arrive in the snow-covered city of Washington later on Wednesday (which translates to early Thursday morning in India). This marks his first face-to-face meeting with President Donald Trump after Trump’s return to the White House for a non-consecutive second term.
Trade and energy are expected to be prominent topics during their discussions scheduled for Thursday afternoon (early Friday morning in India).
A joint statement will disclose the outcomes shortly after their meetings.
Until then, the Prime Minister will engage in bilateral discussions with Trump’s department officials and business leaders.
The rapport between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump is notably warm and amicable.
They co-addressed a Howdy Modi rally in Houston, Texas in 2019, and the Indian leader welcomed the US President in his home state of Gujarat in 2020 during the Namaste Trump rally held in Ahmedabad.
During the Ahmedabad rally, President Trump expressed, “You have done a great honor to the American people. Melania and my family will always cherish this remarkable hospitality. From this day forward, India will hold a very special place in our hearts.”
Prime Minister Modi will be among the first foreign leaders welcomed by President Trump since his return to the White House.
His initial meeting was with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, followed by Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
PM Modi and Trump had their first conversation shortly after Trump’s re-election in November 2024, and again after the American leader was sworn in.
During this call, a visit to the White House by the Prime Minister was discussed, as confirmed by the White House.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted, “The invitation for the Prime Minister to visit the US within a mere three weeks of the new administration’s inception emphasizes the significance of the India-US partnership and reflects bipartisan support for it in the United States.”
He added, “This visit will be an invaluable opportunity to engage the new administration on various mutual interests.”
“There is a clear alignment of interests between the two nations in several areas including trade, investment, technology, defense cooperation, counter-terrorism, and the security of the Indo-Pacific, along with strong people-to-people relations.”
With 5.4 million Indians residing in the US and over 350,000 Indian students studying at US universities, this bond is further strengthened.
Prime Minister Modi's visit is expected to culminate extensive Indian engagement that has already taken place during the Trump administration.
The External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, attended President Trump’s inauguration, which included a private, off-camera prayer meeting, followed by celebrations.
The day after, Secretary of State Marco Rubio became the first counterpart to meet and visit him at the State Department. Recently, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh held a phone conversation.
