PM Modi 10th US Visit: India’s PM Modi on US visit: What does it mean for ties? February 12, 2025 India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun a two-day visit to the United States, his 10th since taking office in 2014. It follows his recent trip to France and is of great significance to both India and the US. Modi will meet US President Donald Trump, with a packed agenda including immigration, trade, defense cooperation, and diplomatic ties. Here’s what the visit means for India-US relations, and what it could mean for their future.
A Decade of Engagement: PM Modi 10th US Visit
Narendra Modi’s frequent trips to the US reflect his focus on strengthening relations with India’s most important strategic partner. Over nine visits, Modi has met three US presidents: Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Each meeting has enriched the relationship, and this 10th visit is critical. With Trump back, the dynamics of the meeting are important. The two leaders have a history of working together and this is an opportunity to build on that foundation.
Addressing the Issue of Illegal Immigration
One of the most pressing issues is illegal immigration. The issue has challenged the US for decades and India has been willing to co-operate by repatriating its nationals living illegally in the US, but the process has been controversial. This year, there were reports of Indian nationals being deported in chains, sparking outrage and heated debates in the Indian Parliament.
Modi will need to confront this issue head-on when he meets Trump. India is still willing to help with repatriation, but the prime minister will also push for a more humane deportation process. This isn’t just a matter of diplomatic courtesy; it’s about treating Indian citizens with dignity. How this conversation goes could set the tone for future immigration cooperation between the two countries.
Navigating Trade Tensions
Trade will also be high on the agenda. The US under the Trump administration has pursued aggressive trade policies, including imposing tariffs on many countries. India has so far escaped direct impacts, but tariffs are still a threat. Both leaders want to discuss how to prevent trade barriers that will hurt the economic interests of both countries.
India and the US have a strong trade relationship, with bilateral trade exceeding $100 billion a year. Enhancing the partnership benefits both countries. Modi and Trump could discuss ways to expand trade ties, perhaps through new agreements or resolution of trade disputes. The outcome of their discussions could have broad implications for businesses and consumers in both countries.
Strengthening Defense and Strategic Ties
Defense cooperation has become a major focus of the India-US relationship in recent years, with the US emerging as one of India’s key defense partners, providing cutting-edge military equipment and technology. The visit will seek to deepen that partnership, with discussions likely to focus on joint military exercises, defense manufacturing and intelligence sharing.
For India, closer defense ties with the US are of great importance as it seeks to modernize its military and tackle security challenges in the region. In turn, the US views India as a key ally in the Indo-Pacific, where it has common interests in stability and containing China’s growing influence. Enhanced defense ties during this visit could pave the way for greater cooperation in the future.
A Possible Invitation for Trump to Visit India
Diplomatic gestures matter a lot in improving bilateral relations, and this visit could provide an opportunity for one. Trump has expressed an interest in visiting India, and Modi could take this opportunity to extend a formal invitation. A Trump visit to India would underscore the importance of the relationship and provide the leaders an opportunity for high-level talks on a range of issues.
But such a visit could also be symbolic. During Modi’s 2019 US visit, he held a massive rally in Houston with thousands of Indian-Americans in attendance. A similar event during Trump’s India visit could deepen ties between the two countries and their people.
A Partnership for the Future
Above all, Modi’s visit to the US is about reaffirming a strategic partnership that has matured over the years. Both India and the US are democracies with shared values and common interests. By working together, they can address global challenges like climate change and terrorism, and promote peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
The visit also underscores the personal rapport between Modi and Trump. Though they have different styles of leadership, both have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the India-US relationship. As they sit down for talks, the world will watch to see how they navigate the challenges of immigration, trade and defense, and what new initiatives they outline to take this partnership to the next level.
But bilateral ties are important because the world is becoming much more interlinked. Modi’s visit to the US is more than a diplomatic exercise. It reflects the aspirations of two countries that want to build a better future together. The two-day visit is a milestone in India-US relations and its impact could last for years.
