India PM Modi to meet Trump in US visit next week: foreign ministry

Modi to Meet Trump in Washington Next Week, Strengthening US-India Ties

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States next week to meet President Donald Trump, India’s foreign ministry announced on Friday.

Modi's visit, scheduled for February 12-13, will make him one of the first world leaders to engage with the new U.S. administration following Trump's inauguration, India’s top diplomat, Vikram Misri, told reporters.

"This visit will be a valuable opportunity to engage with the new administration on all areas of mutual interest," Misri said, confirming that Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with Trump.

Highlighting the strong partnership between India and the U.S. in recent years, Misri emphasized that Modi’s visit aligns with India's ongoing engagement with the Trump administration.

Modi was among the first to congratulate his "dear friend" Trump on his inauguration last month, expressing his eagerness to work closely with the U.S. for the benefit of both nations and a better global future.

However, later in January, Trump urged Modi to ensure "fair" trade relations between the two countries during a phone call, reinforcing his hardline stance on global trade policies.

The two leaders also discussed strengthening the Quad alliance with Australia and Japan, seen as a strategic counterbalance to China. India is set to host the Quad leaders later this year.

During Trump’s previous tenure (2017-2021), Modi and Trump shared a warm relationship, marked by high-profile visits. Modi visited the U.S. in 2017 and 2019, while Trump attended a massive rally in Modi’s home state of Gujarat. In return, Modi joined Trump for a similar event in Houston, Texas.

Misri noted that while the leaders shared a "very close rapport," their strong ties did not lead to a breakthrough in long-pending U.S.-India trade negotiations.

"There is a clear convergence of interests between the two countries," Misri added, pointing to key areas of collaboration, including trade, investment, technology, defense cooperation, counterterrorism, and Indo-Pacific security.