Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump recently met at the White House to discuss ways to enhance the India-US partnership. Both leaders, who share a strong personal bond, engaged in fruitful discussions on trade, security, and international relations.

Warm Welcome and Productive Discussions

To begin, Trump greeted Modi with a warm hug and remarked, “We missed you a lot.” Following this, the two leaders engaged in a comprehensive discussion that lasted for about four hours. The conversation covered various areas, including trade, defense, and energy, with the goal of strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Launching COMPACT: A New Initiative

Furthermore, the leaders introduced COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology for the 21st Century). This new initiative aims to transform the relationship between the two nations by advancing cooperation in defense, trade, energy, innovation, and multilateral partnerships.

Trade and Energy: New Targets and Deals

Regarding trade, Modi and Trump agreed to set an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. At present, trade between the two nations is valued at $129.2 billion. Moreover, the leaders agreed to begin negotiations for a trade agreement, aiming to finalize it by the fall of 2025. The agreement will focus on increasing market access, reducing trade barriers, and strengthening supply chain integration.

In addition, Trump announced that India would increase its imports of US oil and gas, which will help reduce the trade deficit between the two countries. Both leaders also decided to collaborate on nuclear energy by developing small modular reactors and large US-designed reactors to enhance India’s energy infrastructure.

Defense: Strengthening Military Cooperation

Defense cooperation was another key topic of discussion. Modi and Trump agreed to sign a new 10-year framework for the US-India Major Defense Partnership. Additionally, they decided to expand defense sales and co-production, including the procurement of Javelin Anti-Tank Missiles and Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles.

Moreover, the two leaders planned to jointly develop and produce advanced military technologies, such as unmanned surface vehicles and undersea vehicles, to further enhance India’s defense capabilities.

People-to-People Ties: Addressing Immigration

On the matter of people-to-people relations, Modi and Trump also addressed immigration concerns. Both leaders committed to strengthening law enforcement cooperation to combat illegal immigration. Modi firmly stated, “If people are living in the US illegally, India is ready to take them back.”

Additionally, the leaders recognized the contribution of 300,000 Indian students in the US who add over $8 billion to the US economy. They discussed strengthening collaboration in higher education, including joint/dual degree programs and establishing Centers of Excellence.

Extradition of Tahawwur Rana

In a significant development, Trump confirmed that the US would extradite Tahawwur Rana, a key figure in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, to India. As Trump said, “We are handing over a very dangerous man to India.”

Strengthening Bilateral Relations

Overall, PM Modi’s visit marked a significant step in enhancing India-US relations. The discussions were productive, with the two leaders making progress on trade, defense, energy, and education. Moving forward, this visit lays the foundation for deeper cooperation between the two nations in various sectors.