US President Donald Trump has announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit the White House next month, following a productive phone conversation between the two leaders. Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, stated that he had a long discussion with Modi on Monday morning and emphasized their strong bilateral relationship.
In an official statement, the White House confirmed that Trump and Modi discussed deepening cooperation in various areas, including security in the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and Europe. The conversation also covered expanding India’s procurement of American-made defense equipment and fostering a fair bilateral trade relationship.
The White House statement further highlighted the leaders’ commitment to strengthening the US-India strategic partnership, particularly through the Indo-Pacific Quad alliance. India is set to host Quad Leaders for the first time later this year, reinforcing its role in the region’s strategic framework.
PM Modi later expressed his satisfaction over the discussion, calling Trump a “friend” and affirming their shared vision for a trusted and mutually beneficial partnership. Modi tweeted, “Together, we will strive for the welfare of our people and work towards global peace, prosperity, and security.”
Trump and Modi have long shared a cordial relationship, with Trump previously describing Modi as a “magnificent man” after his election victory. Their past engagements include large-scale public events in Houston (September 2019) and Ahmedabad (February 2020), where they addressed massive crowds, celebrating US-India ties.
The timing of this call comes amid India’s concerns over US immigration policies and trade tariffs under Trump’s administration. Previously, Trump had referred to India as the “king of tariffs” and suggested imposing 100% tariffs on BRICS nations, including India.
The conversation also follows External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent meetings in Washington, D.C., with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Jaishankar had attended Trump’s inauguration ceremony on January 20 and participated in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting, marking the first major foreign policy engagement of Trump’s administration.
With PM Modi’s White House visit on the horizon, the US-India partnership is expected to further evolve, focusing on trade, defense, and strategic collaboration.