PM Modi welcomed in Washington ahead of Trump meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora upon his arrival in Washington on Wednesday for a high-profile meeting with re-elected US President Donald Trump. The visit aims to strengthen ties between the world’s two largest democracies.
Despite chilly weather, a crowd of Indian-Americans gathered to greet Modi as his Boeing 777 landed in Washington for a brief but impactful visit of just over 24 hours.
“Despite the cold weather, the Indian diaspora in Washington DC has welcomed me with a very special welcome. My gratitude to them,” Modi shared on X (formerly Twitter).
Before departing for Washington, Modi emphasized the importance of the trip, stating, “This visit will further cement India-USA friendship and boost ties in diverse sectors.” Reflecting on past engagements, he added, “I warmly recall working with President Trump during his first term, and I am sure our talks will build on the progress made then.”
Strategic importance of Modi’s visit
Modi’s visit to Washington comes after his stop in France, where he co-hosted the Artificial Intelligence Summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and inaugurated India’s new consulate in Marseille.
Since Trump’s re-election, Modi is the fourth global leader to hold official talks with him, highlighting India’s strategic importance in US foreign policy. Trump has previously met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II. The selection of early meetings signals Trump’s focus beyond Europe and toward strengthening Indo-Pacific and Middle Eastern alliances.
This marks Modi’s 10th visit to the United States as Prime Minister and his fourth official meeting with Trump. His most recent US trip was in September when he attended the United Nations General Assembly and participated in the Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by then-President Joe Biden in Delaware. Modi was also honored with a ceremonial state visit by Biden in 2024.
Building on a strong partnership
In a statement before departing for the US, Modi underscored the significance of his meeting with Trump. “Although this will be our first meeting following his historic electoral victory and inauguration in January, I have a very warm recollection of working together in his first term to build a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between India and the US,” he said.
He further emphasized that the visit would serve to “build upon the successes of our collaboration in his first term and develop an agenda to further elevate and deepen our partnership, including in the areas of technology, trade, defense, energy, and supply chain resilience.” Modi reaffirmed his commitment to working with Trump “for the mutual benefit of the people of our two countries and to shape a better future for the world.”
