Washington, D.C.: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump marked a major diplomatic success, securing crucial agreements on defense, trade, and energy cooperation. Despite concerns over reciprocal tariffs, top American experts hailed the meeting as a breakthrough in India-U.S. relations.
Modi’s Diplomatic Win
Experts Ashley J. Tellis and Lisa Curtis, both former U.S. officials, praised Modi’s negotiation skills. Tellis described the visit as a “Modi Makes Magic” moment, stating that the Indian Prime Minister successfully positioned India as a key U.S. partner.
With Trump focusing on tariffs and trade imbalances, India faced challenges ahead of the meeting. Hours before their discussion, Trump had announced reciprocal tariffs, labeling India as the “top of the pack” in trade disparities. However, Modi’s diplomacy ensured that major deals were finalized, signaling a positive trajectory for bilateral relations.
Key Agreements Reached
The Modi-Trump meeting resulted in several key agreements across defense, energy, and trade:
✅ F-35 Fighter Jet Offer – The U.S. proposed selling F-35 fighter jets, one of its most advanced military aircraft, to India.
✅ Increased U.S. Oil and Gas Imports – India committed to buying more U.S. energy to help balance trade deficits.
✅ $500 Billion Trade Target – Both nations set an ambitious bilateral trade goal of $500 billion by 2030.
✅ Defense and Security Ties Strengthened – India reaffirmed its commitment to closer defense collaboration with the U.S., including more military equipment deals.
Lisa Curtis emphasized that the meeting took place within the first month of Trump’s second term, highlighting India’s growing strategic importance to the U.S.
Trump’s Tariff Strategy
While Trump’s reciprocal tariffs announcement raised concerns, experts believe it was part of his negotiating strategy.
🗣 Tellis: “There are some things Trump is fixated on, like tariffs, and India will have to deal with that. But the meeting has created room for further negotiations.”
🗣 Curtis: “Trump uses tough rhetoric before meetings. It’s a negotiation tactic. He made his point before sitting down with Modi.”
‘MAGA’ to ‘MIGA’: Modi’s Clever Wordplay
During the meeting, Modi cleverly linked his vision for India to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) slogan.
📢 Modi: “In India, we are working towards a ‘Viksit Bharat’, which in the U.S. context translates into ‘Make India Great Again’ (MIGA). When the U.S. and India work together, this MAGA plus MIGA creates a ‘MEGA’ partnership for prosperity.”
This branding move resonated well, reflecting the strong personal bond between the two leaders.
Challenges and Future Prospects
Despite the positive outcomes, some challenges remain in finalizing the agreements:
❌ Skepticism Over F-35 Deal – India is cautious about the F-35 offer due to past delays in U.S. defense deliveries, including the GE F404 engine for India’s Tejas fighter jet.
❌ Bureaucratic Hurdles – Curtis pointed out that both India and the U.S. face bureaucratic delays in completing defense deals. She cited the seven-year delay in finalizing India’s purchase of MQ-9 armed drones.
However, experts believe the strong personal chemistry between Modi and Trump will help smooth over future negotiations.
The Modi-Trump meeting has reinforced India’s position as a strategic partner for the U.S. in defense, trade, and energy. With major deals on the table and a renewed focus on economic cooperation, the India-U.S. relationship is set to strengthen further in the coming years.
As Tellis summed up: “India is now firmly on the U.S. radar as a top partner, and this meeting has set the stage for deeper cooperation.”
