Trump invites PM Modi to White House for key talks on defense, trade, and Indo-Pacific security

US President Donald Trump has formally invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the White House next week, according to an official announcement. The invitation comes following a telephone conversation between the two leaders on January 27, where they discussed critical issues including defense, trade, immigration, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific. The visit will further strengthen the US-India relationship, which has been growing across multiple sectors in recent years.

Prime Minister Modi is expected to arrive in Washington, DC, on February 12 after completing his visit to France. He will meet with President Trump on February 13 to hold talks on a variety of issues. These discussions will reportedly focus on enhancing defense cooperation, particularly increasing India’s procurement of American-made security equipment, and addressing trade imbalances. The United States has emphasized the need for India to purchase more US-made defense products, which aligns with the broader goal of enhancing bilateral defense ties between the two countries.

In their phone call, President Trump highlighted the importance of fair and balanced trade relations. The US is keen on addressing the issue of high tariffs imposed by India on American products. India has been one of the United States' largest trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching over $118 billion in 2023-24, and India recording a trade surplus of approximately $32 billion. Both leaders are expected to explore ways to resolve existing trade challenges, especially in areas like digital trade, agriculture, and high-tech industries.

The security dimension of the visit will focus on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, where both countries have strategic interests. The US and India are working together to counter China’s growing influence, particularly in maritime security. Both leaders discussed the importance of continuing collaboration in regional security frameworks, including the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), which also involves Japan and Australia. India’s role in hosting the Quad summit later this year will likely be a key point in the discussions between the two leaders.

Immigration issues are also expected to feature in the talks. President Trump reiterated the need for India to address illegal immigration to the United States. The US president pointed out that India would need to take back individuals who had entered the country illegally, a point India has previously addressed by committing to repatriate nationals who are duly identified as Indian citizens. These discussions will likely form part of broader discussions on improving bilateral relations and people-to-people ties.

In addition to trade and security, the visit will also focus on enhancing cooperation in technology and defense. The two countries have been engaged in discussions about advancing critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and 5G. The US is also interested in exploring ways to increase interoperability between the two nations' armed forces. India has been working with the US on military-to-military cooperation and defense acquisitions, with ongoing discussions about defense exports, particularly regarding the sale of advanced military hardware and technology to India.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States is expected to further solidify the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Both nations are committed to deepening their ties in areas such as defense, trade, technology, and regional security. The upcoming meeting between Trump and Modi is seen as a significant step in strengthening the US-India relationship, with discussions aimed at addressing current challenges and exploring opportunities for future collaboration.