New Delhi (TDI): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House next week, a senior official said on Monday.
The visit will focus on trade, defence cooperation, and immigration.
Modi is set to arrive in Washington DC on February 12 after concluding a trip to France.
He will stay in the US capital until February 14, during which he is also likely to engage with corporate leaders and the Indian-American community.
Trump and Modi last spoke on January 27, with the US president reportedly stressing the significance of India purchasing more US-made security equipment and ensuring a balanced trade relationship.
India is keen to expand trade relations and secure easier access for skilled Indian workers in the US.
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New Delhi also seeks to avoid potential tariffs that Trump has previously threatened, citing India’s high import duties on US products.
The US is India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade crossing $118 billion in 2023-24.
India recorded a $32 billion trade surplus, a key point of contention for the Trump administration, which has vowed to reduce trade imbalances.
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Officials familiar with the discussions suggest that Trump wants a more substantial commitment from New Delhi on trade reforms, including higher energy imports and amendments to its nuclear liability legislation to facilitate greater commercial cooperation, according to media reports.
Trump has also linked immigration to bilateral relations, urging Modi to address the return of Indian migrants deported from the United States.
