Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to the White House for a meeting with US President Donald Trump next week, with discussions expected to focus on trade, defence cooperation, and immigration. The visit, confirmed by a senior official on Monday, will take place from February 12 to February 14, following Modi’s stop in France.
Modi and Trump last communicated on January 27, during which Trump urged India to purchase more US-made security equipment and balance trade relations. Trade has been a point of tension, with the US being India’s largest trading partner, and India recording a $32 billion trade surplus in 2023/24. The Trump administration is pushing for India to commit to trade reforms, including higher energy imports and adjustments to its nuclear liability laws.
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Immigration is another topic high on the agenda, with Trump linking it to bilateral relations. He has urged Modi to address the return of deported Indian migrants, further emphasized by a recent US military flight carrying deported individuals back to India.
On the defence front, both leaders are expected to strengthen strategic cooperation under the Quad alliance, focusing on military interoperability and technology sharing. Trump’s visit to India later this year for the Quad leaders’ summit is also anticipated, furthering the two countries’ collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.
