Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the significance of India increasing its purchases of American-made security equipment and moving toward a balanced bilateral trading relationship during a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, according to the White House.
Trump later confirmed to reporters that immigration was also a topic of their discussion, and that Modi is set to visit the U.S. in February. The White House had previously mentioned that discussions around a potential visit were part of their conversation.
The call was described as “productive” by the White House, with the leaders covering a broad range of issues, including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. Reuters had reported the previous week that U.S. and Indian diplomats were working to organize a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders as early as next month.
Trump and Modi shared a cordial relationship during Trump’s first term in office. However, during his re-election campaign, Trump had criticized India as a “very big abuser” on trade, pledging to use tariffs on global imports to rectify trade imbalances. Trump had also threatened the BRICS nations, which includes India, with tariffs unless they committed to refraining from creating a new currency.
During Monday’s conversation, Trump “emphasized the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment and moving toward a fair bilateral trading relationship,” as stated by the White House. India is currently the U.S.’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade surpassing $118 billion in 2023/24. India recorded a trade surplus of $32 billion.
India remains a key strategic partner for the U.S., particularly in efforts to counter China. In a social media post, Modi referred to Trump as a “dear friend” and affirmed their commitment to a “mutually beneficial and trusted partnership.” Modi added, “We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security.”
An official statement from India said the two leaders discussed a wide range of areas including technology, trade, investment, energy, and defense, and agreed to “remain in touch and meet soon at an early mutually convenient date.”
The White House also emphasized the commitment to the Quad, a strategic group that includes the United States, India, Australia, and Japan. India is set to host the Quad leaders later this year.
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Tanvi Madan, an India expert from the Brookings Institution, suggested that Modi’s visit to Washington seems imminent, with Trump expected to reciprocate by attending the upcoming Quad summit. She pointed out that trade and immigration remain high on the Trump administration’s agenda regarding India. “The impact will depend in part on India’s response to Trump’s requests, but also on the broader debate over these issues in Washington,” she added. Madan also noted that India may hope for a shift in U.S. policy concerning its strong ties with Russia, despite the ongoing sanctions against Moscow due to the Ukraine war.
“Do What’s Right” on Immigration
In the call, Trump reassured reporters that Modi “will do what’s right” when it comes to handling the issue of Indian immigrants in the U.S. who entered the country illegally. Trump has repeatedly pledged to clamp down on illegal immigration, and reports indicate that the U.S. and India have identified around 18,000 Indian nationals who are living in the country illegally.
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Trump expressed his openness to legal immigration, particularly for skilled workers, which is relevant given India’s substantial pool of IT professionals who are among the largest group of recipients of H-1B visas. India has long been a leading contributor to the skilled workforce in the U.S.
While there was no mention of Washington’s accusations regarding India’s alleged involvement in a foiled murder plot targeting a Sikh separatist in the U.S. under President Biden’s administration, the situation remains a sensitive point in U.S.-India relations.
