 "Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
met with
US President
Donald Trump
at the White House on 13 February in Washington D.C. Image courtesy @MEAIndia / X")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday for extensive discussions on trade, technology, defence, security, energy and people-to-people ties, while also addressing key regional and global developments.
Here are the 15 major takeaways from their high-stakes dialogue:
1. Tahawwur Rana extradition
US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to extraditing Tahawwur Rana to India for trial over his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
2. Sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets
President Donald Trump announced that the United States would sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to India.
3. Defence Cooperation Framework
Both President Trump and Prime minister Modi discussed deeper defence collaboration including increased arms sales to India.
4. Ukraine War: India’s stance
Prime Minister Modi backed President Trump’s efforts to end the war, clarifying that India is not neutral but on the side of peace.
5. Tariffs: Trade dispute continues
President Trump doubled down on reciprocal tariffs insisting that India has high tariffs and that the US would charge India at the same rate. He claimed the US loses $100 billion to India in trade.
6. China: US won’t meddle in India-China tensions
Preident Trump distanced himself from India-China tensions, stating, “Not looking at anybody to beat China, but if I can be of help, I will.”
Impact Shorts
More Shorts7. The Quad: Modi defends multilateralism
While President Trump hinted at walking away from Quad, Prime Minister Modi reinforced the importance of multilateral cooperation.
8. Cracking down on human trafficking
Prime Minister Modi called for strong action against human trafficking networks, highlighting concerns over illegal immigration.
9. Elon Musk’s India connection
Prime Minister Modi reminisced about knowing Elon Musk since his tenure as Gujarat chief minister and appreciated Musk visiting with his family.
10. Terrorism: A common enemy
Trump and Modi agreed that radical terrorism must be countered. Modi pushed for a firm stance on cross-border terrorism, indirectly referencing Pakistan.
11. Bangladesh: Trump evades the issue
When asked about Bangladesh, Trump dodged the question, offering no clear stance.
12. Khalistan: A cryptic response
President Trump initially claimed he couldn’t understand the accent, then hinted that India had made a request, with “more to follow” from his administration.
13. Joe Biden: The scapegoat
President Trump repeatedly blamed his predecessor, Joe Biden, for everything he perceives as wrong with the US and global affairs.
14. Gautam Adani: Modi shuts down the question
When a reporter asked about probe against Indian business tycoon Gautam Adani in the US, Modi dismissed it, stating, “We, in India, follow the tradition of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam. We see the world as one family. I consider every Indian as my own. When two leaders meet, they don’t discuss individuals.”
15. Miga to Maga: Modi’s wordplay
Prime Minister Modi translated his Viksit Bharat 2047 vision into American terms, calling it “Make India Great Again” (MIGA)—a nod to Trump’s Maga (Make America Great Again) slogan.