By Shivam Patel
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian and U.S. diplomats are trying to arrange a February meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, two Indian sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.
India, a strategic partner of the United States in its efforts against China, wants to strengthen its trade relations with the United States and make it easier for its citizens to obtain skilled worker visas, two subjects which will be on the agenda of the day if the leaders meet. , the sources said.
Trump’s return to the White House has sparked concerns among officials in New Delhi over the imposition of tariffs on India, which he listed as one of the countries that imposes high tariffs on American products and indicated that he favored reciprocity.
But the sources said New Delhi was willing to offer some concessions to Washington – although it has not been officially informed of a US plan to impose reciprocal tariffs – and was also open to provide incentives to attract more US investment to India.
Officials hope a quick meeting between the two men will help build positive ties for Trump’s new term, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Trump visited India in February 2020 during his previous term. He was later cheered by more than 100,000 Indians at a cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, Modi’s political home, where he promised India “an incredible trade deal.”
In 2019, Trump held a “Howdy Modi” rally with Modi in Houston, attracting 50,000 people, mostly Indian-Americans.
Laying the groundwork for a new Modi-Trump meeting is also on the agenda of Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who attended Trump’s inauguration on Monday and met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The United States is India’s largest trading partner and bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded $118 billion in 2023/24, with India posting a trade surplus of $32 billion.
Other topics of discussion between the two leaders would include strengthening the partnership in the technology and defense sectors, the sources said.
Migration would be another topic of discussion, as Trump has pledged to crack down on illegal immigration but said he is open to legal migration of skilled workers.
India, known for its large pool of IT professionals, many of whom work around the world, accounts for the bulk of H-1B skilled worker visas issued by the United States.
Rubio discussed concerns about “irregular migration” with Jaishankar on Tuesday, the U.S. State Department said.