WASHINGTON DC: U.S. President Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the White House next week, a White House official confirmed early Tuesday. The invitation comes shortly after a U.S. military plane left to return deported migrants to India.
On January 27, Trump and Modi talked about several important issues, including immigration, the need for India to buy more American-made security equipment, and how to improve fair trade between the two countries.
India, as a key ally in countering China, wants to strengthen its trade ties with the U.S. and make it easier for skilled workers to get visas. The country also aims to avoid tariffs that Trump has warned about, especially because of India's high tariffs on U.S. goods. In 2023/24, the U.S. became India’s largest trading partner, with trade surpassing $118 billion. India had a trade surplus of $32 billion with the U.S. during this period.
PM Modi’s visit to the U.S. will mark his first bilateral trip there since Trump assumed office for his second term. The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Washington, D.C. on February 12 for a two-day meeting with Trump to discuss various aspects of the U.S.-India relationship.
PM Modi’s visit will follow a stop in Paris, and he will be one of the few foreign leaders to visit Washington D.C after Trump’s inauguration. Earlier, Trump had hinted at the visit, informing reporters aboard Air Force One that the Prime Minister would be coming to the White House in February.
“I had a long talk with him this morning. He is going to be coming to the White House, probably next month, in February. We have a very good relationship with India,” Trump said, confirming the planned visit.