PM Modi to Visit US in February: Trump Highlights Strong Ties and Immigration Talks
Washington/New Delhi: US President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States in February. This announcement followed a telephone conversation between the two leaders, marking their first official interaction since Trump’s return to the White House for a second term on January 20.
“He (PM Modi) will visit the US sometime in February,” President Trump said, as reported by news agency Reuters.
The discussion comes amid speculation in diplomatic circles about India’s efforts to arrange an early meeting between Modi and Trump, reflecting the deepening ties between the two nations.
Talks on Immigration and Indo-US Partnership
In addition to scheduling the visit, President Trump mentioned that he discussed immigration policies with PM Modi. He stated that India would do “what is right” regarding the repatriation of illegal immigrants. Trump’s strong stance on cracking down on unlawful immigration played a crucial role in his re-election campaign, making the issue significant in US-India diplomatic engagements.
Trump also emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation between the two nations. The White House released a statement highlighting the “productive call” between the two leaders, during which they discussed expanding strategic and economic partnerships.
“The leaders discussed plans for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House, underscoring the strength of the friendship and strategic ties between our nations. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to advancing the US-India strategic partnership and the Indo-Pacific Quad partnership, with India set to host Quad Leaders for the first time later this year,” the statement read.
Modi’s Previous US Visit and Future Engagement
Prime Minister Modi last visited the United States in September for the fourth Quad Leaders’ Summit, hosted by then-President Joe Biden. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and then-Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attended the summit.
During that visit, PM Modi also addressed the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar represented India at President Trump’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.
The upcoming February visit is expected further to enhance diplomatic relations between India and the US, as both nations look to strengthen their strategic, economic, and security ties.
