NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States on February 12-13 to meet President Donald Trump, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Friday.
Modi’s visit is his first to the U.S. after President Trump inaugurated his second term on January 20. The two leaders will discuss priority issues, such as energy, defense, and trade. “Tariff-related issues will also be part of the ongoing dialogue with the U.S.,” Misri said.
The United States is India’s biggest trade partner, with bilateral trade worth more than $118 billion in 2023-24, and India having a trade surplus of $32 billion. President Trump recently announced the imposition of a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports, as well as a further 10% duty on Chinese imports, which has raised apprehensions in India about the possible impact on its economy.
Moreover, the visit comes after criticism of the Modi government after the deportation of 104 Indian immigrants by the U.S. authorities, part of Trump’s immigration policy. Opposition parliamentarians in India have protested the treatment of the deportees, resulting in disruptions in Parliament proceedings and calls for a government response.
During a telephone conversation on January 27, Modi and Trump discussed the issues of immigration and emphasized the need for India to buy American-made security equipment, as well as ensuring balanced bilateral trade. The meeting next month will try to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the two countries, especially in the backdrop of countering China’s influence and expanding trade ties.
Before reaching Washington, Modi will be in Paris on February 10 and 11 to attend the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit. His schedule in the U.S. includes high-level interaction in both closed and delegation-level platforms, meetings with top members of the U.S. administration, and interactions with business leaders and members of the Indian diaspora
