Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his two-day visit to the United States on February 14 (IST), marking his first trip to the country since President Donald Trump assumed office for a second term. The visit, spanning February 12-13, saw both leaders engage in discussions on key bilateral and global issues, resulting in major announcements and commitments that are set to shape Indo-US relations.
Strengthening Strategic Ties
During their bilateral talks, Modi and Trump covered a broad spectrum of topics, including defense and security cooperation, trade and technology partnerships, energy collaboration, and fostering stronger people-to-people ties.
Trump, lauding Modi as a “great friend,” emphasized the deep-rooted relationship between the two nations. “It’s a great honor to have PM Modi of India. He is a great friend of mine for a long time. We have had a wonderful relationship, and we kept the relationship during our four-year period… We have just started up again,” Trump said.
A key highlight of the discussions was India’s commitment to purchasing American oil and gas. “We have more oil and gas than any other country in the world by far. They need it, and we have it. We are going to talk about trade. We are going to talk about many things. But it’s really an honor to see you,” Trump added.
Major Announcements and Commitments
Addressing a joint press conference, Trump hailed the “special bond” between the world’s largest democracy and the world’s oldest democracy.
- Defense & Security: Trump announced a significant increase in military sales to India, stating, “Starting this year, we will be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars.”
- Advanced Fighter Jets: The Trump administration confirmed plans to pave the way for India’s acquisition of F-35 stealth fighters, strengthening India’s air defense capabilities.
- Extradition of Tahawwur Rana: Trump also highlighted the approval of the extradition of 2008 Mumbai terror attack plotter Tahawwur Rana, calling him “one of the very evil people of the world.”
Modi’s Stance on Ukraine Conflict
During the talks, Modi reiterated India’s commitment to global peace, addressing concerns about India’s stance on the ongoing Ukraine war.
“I support Donald Trump’s efforts towards finding a possible solution to end the war. The world somehow feels India has been neutral during the war. But I would like to reiterate that India has not been neutral. In fact, India has been on the side of peace,” Modi asserted.
Reaffirming India’s diplomatic approach, Modi recalled his discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin: “When I met President Putin, I had even said that ‘this is not the era for war’. I had also said that solutions cannot be found on the battlefield. They can only come when all parties sit at the table for dialogue.”