Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the United States next week for a meeting with President Donald Trump, according to a statement from the White House.
Reports indicate that Modi will also attend a dinner hosted by the US president during his two-day visit. However, the exact dates of the official working visit have not yet been disclosed.
The Indian leader will be one of the first foreign dignitaries to meet Trump at the White House following the start of his second term. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently in Washington, while Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to arrive later this week.
During Trump’s first term, he and Modi shared a strong rapport. Last week, the two leaders engaged in what the White House described as a “productive” phone conversation, discussing issues such as illegal immigration, security, and trade relations.
Analysts believe it will be crucial to see whether this cordial relationship can help resolve concerns regarding trade disputes and immigration policies.
Trump, who has praised Modi as a “great leader,” has also criticized India over its trade practices, particularly its tariffs. Last year, he accused India of imposing excessive tariffs on US goods.
The confirmation of Modi’s visit to Washington comes shortly after a US military flight carrying around 100 deported Indian nationals landed in Punjab.
Reports suggest that those deported had either entered the US illegally or overstayed their visas.
During their phone conversation last week, Trump expressed confidence that India “will do the right thing” regarding illegal immigration.
Deportation of undocumented foreign nationals has been a central aspect of Trump’s policy. According to a Bloomberg report, 18,000 undocumented Indian migrants have been identified in the US, though experts believe the actual number may be higher.
A study by the Pew Research Center estimated that the number of undocumented Indian immigrants in the US stood at approximately 725,000 last year.
Thus far, India has managed to avoid facing direct US tariffs on its exports.
However, Trump has previously described India as the “tariff king” and a “big abuser” of trade relations. He has warned of reciprocal actions if India does not lower its taxes on American imports.
In an attempt to ease tensions, India’s latest budget included reductions in duties on various products, including high-end motorcycles like Harley-Davidson.
India’s finance secretary emphasized that this decision demonstrated the country was “not a tariff king.”
Last week, the Indian foreign ministry affirmed that efforts were underway to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.
India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar represented the country at Trump’s inauguration ceremony and held discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio while visiting Washington.
Following Trump’s re-election victory in November, Jaishankar stated that India had no concerns about collaborating with the US administration.