Amid rising global tensions, Trump and Modi held a “productive” conversation addressing trade, security, and defense cooperation. Trump urged India to boost American defense imports, while concerns over U.S. tariffs on BRICS nations added uncertainty to economic ties.
BY PC Bureau
U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a “productive” phone conversation on Monday, emphasizing the need for a fair bilateral trading relationship and expanded cooperation between the two nations, the White House reported.
During the call, Trump and Modi explored ways to deepen economic and security ties, with discussions touching on regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. The White House statement highlighted Trump’s push for India to increase its procurement of American-made defense equipment, reinforcing a key pillar of their strategic partnership.
“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,” the readout noted.
US readout of Trump-Modi call:
– deepening coop, bilat + Quad
– regional issues – Indo-Pac, ME, Europe (Rus-Ukr)
– Trump wants India to buy more US defense equipment & wants fairer trade
– suggests Modi to visit DC soon & that Trump will go to India this year for Quad summit pic.twitter.com/Myh3ME5IVj— Tanvi Madan (@tanvi_madan) January 27, 2025
Additionally, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the U.S.-India strategic partnership and strengthening the Indo-Pacific Quad, with India set to host the Quad Leaders’ Summit later this year.
However, Trump’s stance on trade has raised concerns in India, particularly regarding tariffs and immigration policies. The U.S. president has previously threatened to impose 100% tariffs on BRICS nations, a bloc that includes India.
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Addressing these concerns, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s ongoing dialogue with Washington on trade and immigration matters. “We remain hopeful that both sides will be able to address any outstanding issues,” Jaiswal stated during a press briefing.
Trade remains a cornerstone of the India-U.S. relationship, with bilateral trade in goods and services reaching a record $190 billion in 2023.
Trump has historically maintained strong diplomatic engagement with India. His last foreign visit during his first term was to India, where he and Modi addressed massive rallies in Houston (2019) and Ahmedabad (2020). Following his stunning re-election victory in November 2024, Modi was among the top three world leaders to speak with Trump, signaling the continued importance of U.S.-India relations in his second term.
