New Delhi:
In a significant diplomatic engagement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held extensive discussions at the White House on Thursday, just hours after President Trump unveiled a new policy of reciprocal tariffs targeting all US trading partners, including India.
The meeting, which took place in Washington D.C., marked a crucial milestone in the bilateral relationship between the two nations, with a focus on defence, trade, technology, and energy cooperation. The warm reception, highlighted by a hug between the two leaders, set the tone for a productive and collaborative dialogue.
President Trump announced a substantial increase in military sales to India, amounting to billions of dollars, starting this year. A pivotal development was the US’s willingness to provide India with F-35 stealth fighter jets, a move that could significantly bolster India’s air power and recalibrate the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific region.
The discussions also included a new ten-year framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership, which will involve the expansion of US platforms in Indian defence services. This includes new deals for Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stryker armoured fighting vehicles, and the procurement of six additional P8I maritime surveillance aircraft.
Additionally, there were talks on streamlining technology transfers and spare part supplies through a review of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the initiation of negotiations for a Reciprocal Defense Procurement (RDP) agreement. The US also announced a policy review on releasing fifth-generation fighter jets and undersea warfare systems to India.
The economic front saw the introduction of “Mission 500,” a target to increase bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. Both leaders committed to finalizing a bilateral trade agreement by autumn 2025, which will cover multiple sectors and aim to resolve trade barriers, including the contentious reciprocal tariffs.
The meeting acknowledged Indian investments in the US worth $7.355 billion, which support 3,000 high-quality jobs. However, these discussions were set against the backdrop of Trump’s recent 25% tariff on global steel and aluminium imports, which could impact Indian exports.
The TRUST (“Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology”) Initiative was announced to facilitate partnerships between governments, academia, and the private sector in critical and emerging technologies. A US-India AI Roadmap is set to be finalized by the end of the year, along with partnerships in next-generation data centres and AI processing.
The INDUS Innovation initiative, modelled after INDUS-X, will advance industry-academic collaboration in space, energy, and biotechnology. There were also plans to expand Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing in the US, particularly for critical medicines, and a Strategic Mineral Recovery initiative to recover and process rare earth minerals, lithium, and cobalt for high-tech industries.
PM Modi and President Trump reaffirmed their commitment to the India-US Energy Security Partnership, with plans to support India’s full membership in the International Energy Agency (IEA). They also agreed to move forward with the India-US 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement, enabling the deployment of US-designed nuclear reactors in India. Collaboration on advanced small modular reactors to scale up nuclear energy production was another key area of discussion.
A significant announcement was the US’s approval of the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, to India. This move was welcomed by PM Modi, who thanked President Trump for expediting the process. The leaders also condemned Pakistan’s failure to act against terrorist networks and demanded accountability for the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks.
The Quad alliance, comprising India, the US, Japan, and Australia, was highlighted, with PM Modi set to host President Trump for the next Quad Leaders’ Summit. There were also discussions on the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) and the I2U2 Group, with plans to announce new initiatives in 2025. The Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, a forum for economic and security cooperation, was another area of focus.
