Trump, Modi Expected to Push India-U.S. Ties to New Highs, White House Says

Washington — U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to push India-U.S. relations to “new highs” as the two leaders prepare for bilateral talks in France, the White House said.

The meeting in Evian, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, is expected to focus on trade, technology, investment, supply chains, artificial intelligence and global security challenges.

“President Trump and Prime Minister Modi have a close friendship, and under their leadership, the Trump administration and Indian government are set to take our two countries to new highs,” White House spokesman Kush Desai told IANS.

The talks will mark the first in-person meeting between Trump and Modi since their summit last February. The meeting comes as both countries continue discussions on a possible trade agreement and as diplomatic efforts continue to address the crisis in West Asia.

The White House said the two leaders will meet on the sidelines of the G7 Summit and discuss economic growth, investment partnerships and security issues.

“President Trump has consistently underscored his support for America’s strategic partnership with India,” Desai said.

He added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to India helped advance Trump’s efforts to deepen cooperation between the two countries on trade and national security.

“Secretary Rubio’s landmark visit to India built on the President’s push to expand bilateral ties and cooperation on trade and national security, including with the signing of a historic MOU on critical minerals,” Desai said.

Experts said both sides are likely looking for concrete outcomes as well as strong political messaging from the meeting.

Aparna Pande, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, said expectations are high.

“PM Modi and President Trump’s in-person meeting will be their first since last February’s summit meeting,” Pande told IANS.

“Both sides have high expectations from this meeting, which comes in the backdrop of a possible resolution of the West Asia crisis and amidst discussions over the trade deal.”

Pande said the optics of the meeting will be important, along with any substantive announcements.

“The optics of the meeting will be critical as well as the substantive part,” she said.

“Both leaders would like to demonstrate that ties between the two democracies remain strong despite the headwinds and that they would be keen to announce some defense and technology related agreements.”

Atman Trivedi, partner at Albright Stonebridge Group, North America, said the meeting offers the two leaders an opportunity to improve momentum in bilateral ties.

“The leaders’ meeting represents the latest best opportunity to reset ties,” Trivedi told IANS.

“Their conversation comes after the deaths of Indian sailors in the Gulf of Oman dealt a blow to hopes for reviving bilateral relations.”

Trivedi said expectations should remain modest and focused on reaffirming shared interests.

“Expectations should be modest and centered around Trump and Modi reaffirming the importance of each other to longstanding shared interests in energy, defense, and technology cooperation,” he said.

“A positive statement recognizing the significance of an interim trade agreement and urging negotiators to reach a deal in the next month or two should also be achievable.”

Earlier Tuesday, Trump and Modi exchanged greetings on the sidelines of a G7 outreach session on “Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity.”

The two leaders shook hands and briefly spoke before joining discussions attended by G7 members, partner countries, the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

Upon arriving in Evian, Modi said he looked forward to engaging with world leaders on major global issues. (Source: IANS)