IRIA News

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U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House on February 13, 2025. While emphasizing friendship and cooperation with New Delhi, Trump made it clear that India would not be exempt from his aggressive trade policies and higher tariffs.

Trade was a central theme of the meeting between the two leaders. The U.S. and India had a trade deficit of $50 billion in India’s favor in 2023, with total goods and services trade reaching approximately $190.1 billion. According to India’s External Affairs Ministry, U.S. exports to India amounted to nearly $70 billion, while imports stood at $120 billion.

Despite the warm welcome and cordial exchanges, Trump did not hold back his criticism of India’s trade policies. “Whatever India charges, we charge them,” he said during a joint press conference with Modi. “So, frankly, it no longer matters to us that much, what they charge.” He has previously labeled India as the “tariff king,” decrying what he considers to be unfair trade practices.

Trump signed an order before Modi’s arrival to increase tariffs on imports to match the tax rates imposed by other nations, a move that impacts U.S. trading partners worldwide, including India. The White House defended this as a necessary step to level the playing field for American manufacturers, although it is expected to result in higher costs for American businesses and consumers.

Modi, for his part, has been eager to avoid additional tariffs and to strengthen relations with Washington, especially after facing criticism for not condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Addressing this, Modi emphasized India’s stance on global peace. “The world had this thinking that India somehow is a neutral country in this whole process,” he said. “But this is not true. India has a side, and that side is of peace.”

President Donald J. Trump welcomed Indian Prime Minister @NarendraModi to the White House today. 🇺🇸🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/4UB23j7UvK

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 13, 2025

While trade tensions remain, Modi and Trump indicated they were working toward a comprehensive trade deal that could be completed later this year. Trump suggested that increasing U.S. energy exports to India could help reduce the trade deficit.

India had already shown a willingness to lower some trade barriers even before Modi’s visit. In 2023, India reduced tariffs on certain U.S. goods, including cutting levies on Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 50% to 40%. Additionally, India dropped retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products like almonds, apples, chickpeas, lentils, and walnuts.

Despite these positive steps, Trump has remained firm in his approach. He has imposed tariffs on China, threatened similar actions against the European Union, and expanded tariffs on steel and aluminum, moves that have drawn criticism from U.S. businesses and allies alike.

Military sales and extradition agreement

Trump announced that the U.S. would increase military sales to India by “many millions of dollars.” This could potentially lead to India acquiring F-35 stealth fighter jets, which the country has long sought to boost its defense capabilities.

Another major agreement between the two nations involved extradition. Trump confirmed that Tahawwur Hussain Rana, convicted in 2011 in the U.S. for plotting an attack on a Danish newspaper, would be sent back to India to face justice for his alleged role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Immigration and deportations

“He’s going to be going back to India to face justice,” Trump stated. “We’re giving him back to India immediately.” He also hinted at further extraditions in the future.

Another key issue of discussion was immigration. The Trump administration has been cracking down on illegal immigration, and India recently accepted the return of 104 migrants deported from the U.S. This was the first such flight to India under Trump’s stricter immigration policies.

India has the third-largest population of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., with over 725,000 Indian nationals residing in the country without legal status, according to the Pew Research Center. There has also been a notable increase in Indian nationals attempting to cross into the U.S. through the Canadian border, with more than 14,000 arrests in the past year accounting for 60% of all border arrests in that region.

Trump has repeatedly promised a “mass deportation” of undocumented immigrants. Modi responded positively, saying, “Any verified Indian who is in the U.S. illegally, we are fully prepared to take them back to India.”

Modi’s praise for Trump

Throughout the visit, Modi continued his tradition of publicly praising Trump. He even coined a slogan inspired by Trump’s well-known “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) campaign, stating that he is determined to “Make India Great Again” (MIGA).

Modi’s outreach to Trump is part of a broader strategy to strengthen India’s ties with the U.S. and Western allies, especially considering India’s neutral stance on Russia’s actions in Ukraine. By aligning more closely with Washington, Modi is seeking economic and strategic benefits while maintaining India’s independent foreign policy.

Before he met with Trump, Modi met with key U.S. officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. He also held discussions with billionaire entrepreneur and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who holds a top position in the Trump administration.

An excellent meeting with @POTUS @realDonaldTrump at the White House. Our talks will add significant momentum to the India-USA friendship! pic.twitter.com/lS7o4768yi

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2025

Trump was asked whether Musk met with Modi in his capacity as a government official or as a business leader, given concerns about his commercial interests in India. Trump responded, “India is a very hard place to do business because of the tariffs. They have the highest tariffs, just about in the world, and it’s a hard place to do business. No, I would imagine he met possibly because, you know, he is running a company.”

While the Trump-Modi meeting showcased a strong personal rapport between the two leaders, underlying tensions remain, particularly in trade and tariffs. As Modi continues to navigate India’s role on the global stage, his alignment with Trump signals a push for stronger U.S.-India relations. Whether this partnership can overcome trade disputes in the long run remains to be seen.